'Constantly on my mind' - 9/11 agony endures for bereaved, 25 years on

September 8, 2026

Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, the alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed still has not faced trial, causing anguish for victims' families who fear justice may never be delivered. Mohammed has been detained at Guantanamo Bay for two decades without conviction, while lengthy pre-trial proceedings have cycled through five different military judges. Although a trial date has finally been set for June 2028, family members like Tom Resta, whose brother, sister-in-law, and unborn nephew died in the World Trade Center, worry about further delays and whether elderly relatives will survive to see justice served.

Who is affected

Nearly 3,000 victims killed in the 9/11 attacks (2,976 listed on the charge sheet)
Tom Resta's brother John, his wife Sylvia (seven months pregnant), and their unborn baby
Tom Resta and his aging parents (father will be 98 in November) and extended family
Stephan Gerhardt and his younger brother Ralph (victim)
Other families of 9/11 victims attending proceedings at Guantanamo Bay
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants held at Guantanamo Bay
New Yorkers exposed to toxic air after the attacks

What action is being taken

Pre-trial proceedings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants are ongoing at Guantanamo Bay, with relatives of victims entering a lottery process to attend hearings in a high-security courtroom. Stephan Gerhardt is working to restore his brother Ralph's car to pristine condition as a way to preserve memories.

Why it matters

This case represents what the US government calls "the most egregious criminal act on American soil in modern history," yet a quarter century later, no one has been convicted for planning and executing the attacks. The extensive delays deny closure to grieving families, some of whom may not live long enough to witness justice, while raising concerns that the elderly defendants themselves might die before conviction. The legal complications stemming from Mohammed's torture at CIA black sites demonstrate how post-9/11 interrogation practices continue to undermine judicial proceedings decades later.

What's next

A trial date has been set for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for June 2028, though family members anticipate potential further delays.

Read full article from source: BBC