The Office of Military commissions filed charges against Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi, the brother-in-low of 9/11 hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar at the naval detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The charges include conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, murder in violation of the laws of war, and proving material support to terrorism.
Military officials believe al-Darbi participated in meetings with al Qaida operatives and top lieutenants of Osama bin Laden to plan attacks against ships in the Strait of Hormuz and others near the coast of Yemen. The charges state al-Darbi met with bin Laden in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and served as a weapons instructor at al Qaeda training facilitities there. The charges allege al-Darbi planned to load a boat named “Adnan” with explosives for terrorist operations. He also allegedly purchased a second boat with the intent to train terrorist operatives to operate a commandeer a ship.
The charges mean military judicial authorities at Guantanamo Bay will assess al-Darbi's status and review his eligibility to face prosecution before the war crimes tribunal established by U.S. authorities. Officials at the base state that the review and prosecutorial processes are in top gear to expedite outstanding cases. It is widely speculated the Bush administration will move to close the detention facility before his term as president ends in 2009.
