Terrorist Pleads Guilty at Gitmo, Sentenced to 19 Years
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John Moore/Getty Images(GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba) — Majid Khan went from working for a Virginia electronics firm to becoming a terrorist assigned to conduct a wave of 9/11-style attacks on the U.S.
But before he could carry out his mission, Khan was caught and now he will spend at least 19 years in prison after copping a plea deal on Wednesday before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay.
In exchange for a lesser sentence, Khan must provide “complete and accurate information in interviews, depositions and testimony wherever and whenever requested by the prosecutors” about other terrorist suspects.
Khan, a Pakistani citizen, was in Virginia when the Pentagon came under attack on Sept. 11, 2001. He then decided to join al Qaeda by traveling to Pakistan where he met with 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed, now a detainee at Gitmo.
In addition to being a courier for al Qaeda, Khan was prepared to conduct terrorist activities in the U.S., including poisoning water reservoirs and blowing up fuel tanks under filling stations.
Apprehended in 2003, Khan pleaded guilty Wednesday to five war crimes, including murder, attempted murder and spying. If he decides not to cooperate with prosecutors, his sentence will be extended to 25 years.
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