Military Advances Trial for Accused 9/11 Plotters

April 5, 2012
If convicted, the five men could face the death penalty.

A retired FDNY deputy chief who lost his firefighter son in the 9/11 terrorist attacks is cautiously optimistic after military officials announced Wednesday that they are ready to move forward with the trial of five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged with plotting the attacks.

Jim Riches -- whose son Jimmy was killed in the attacks -- was among the victims' relatives notified that the charges were re-filed against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh and three others, according to CNN.

If convicted, the men could face the death penalty.

"Eleven years later and the families are still awaiting justice," he told CNN. "Hopefully, the trial will move forward. Let the world see what these men are like."

According to NY1, the men will be tried together and the military now has 30 days to arraign them on charges that include terrorism and murder.

So far, no trial date has been set.

The same men were first charged in 2008, but their cases were suspended after the Obama administration's failed attempt to move the case to a federal court in New York.

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