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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Key 9/11 suspect confesses guilt | Key 9/11 suspect confesses guilt |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks has confessed to his role in them, and 30 other terror plots around the world, the Pentagon says. | The alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks has confessed to his role in them, and 30 other terror plots around the world, the Pentagon says. |
| "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z," said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a transcript of a US hearing at Guantanamo Bay prison camp. | "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z," said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a transcript of a US hearing at Guantanamo Bay prison camp. |
| He also said he had planned attacks on Big Ben and Heathrow airport in London. | He also said he had planned attacks on Big Ben and Heathrow airport in London. |
| The hearing was held to determine whether he was an "enemy combatant" who should remain in detention. | |
| It could open the way for Mohammed to face criminal charges and eventually a trial before a special military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay. | |
| KEY TARGETS Library Tower, Los AngelesSears Tower, ChicagoPlaza Bank, Washington StateEmpire State Building, NYHeathrow Airport, LondonBig Ben, London The 14 key detainees | KEY TARGETS Library Tower, Los AngelesSears Tower, ChicagoPlaza Bank, Washington StateEmpire State Building, NYHeathrow Airport, LondonBig Ben, London The 14 key detainees |
| According to the transcripts, Sheikh Mohammed admitted responsibility for a series of attacks, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York and the attempt by the so-called shoe bomber, Richard Reid, to down an American plane. | According to the transcripts, Sheikh Mohammed admitted responsibility for a series of attacks, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York and the attempt by the so-called shoe bomber, Richard Reid, to down an American plane. |
| He also claimed to be behind plots to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II and former US President Bill Clinton. | He also claimed to be behind plots to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II and former US President Bill Clinton. |
| Many of the operations, including plans to attack Heathrow Airport and Big Ben in London, never happened. | Many of the operations, including plans to attack Heathrow Airport and Big Ben in London, never happened. |
| Transcripts of his testimony were translated from Arabic and edited by the US Defense Department to remove sensitive intelligence material before release. | Transcripts of his testimony were translated from Arabic and edited by the US Defense Department to remove sensitive intelligence material before release. |
| 'Sham tribunals' | 'Sham tribunals' |
| Mohammed is the most high-profile of 14 "high value" detainees recently transferred from secret CIA prisons abroad to the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba. | Mohammed is the most high-profile of 14 "high value" detainees recently transferred from secret CIA prisons abroad to the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba. |
| The closed-door hearings were held over the weekend. It is the first time Mohammed has faced a court since his capture in March 2003 in Pakistan. | The closed-door hearings were held over the weekend. It is the first time Mohammed has faced a court since his capture in March 2003 in Pakistan. |
| The US hearings have been widely criticised by lawyers and human rights groups as sham tribunals, with no chance for the defendants to get a fair trial. | The US hearings have been widely criticised by lawyers and human rights groups as sham tribunals, with no chance for the defendants to get a fair trial. |
| Mohammed, a Pakistan national, was said to be the third most senior al-Qaeda leader before his capture. | Mohammed, a Pakistan national, was said to be the third most senior al-Qaeda leader before his capture. |
| The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera says there is nothing new in Mohammed's admission and that there is a transcript of his interrogation over 9/11 available on the web. | The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera says there is nothing new in Mohammed's admission and that there is a transcript of his interrogation over 9/11 available on the web. |
| Its significance lies in the fact that he made the statements at the hearing, which could now lead to a trial before a military tribunal, our correspondent says. | Its significance lies in the fact that he made the statements at the hearing, which could now lead to a trial before a military tribunal, our correspondent says. |