Netflix has releasedAmerican Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,documenting the search for the militant leader. A high-stakes narrative unfolds in this documentary series, combining never-before-seen footage and insider CIA perspectives to chronicle thetrue story of the search for Osama bin Laden. One of the key figures in the docuseries is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was Chief of External Operations for bin Laden at the time of his arrest.
Sheikh Mohammed, often known by his initials KSM, led al-Qaeda’s propaganda operations and, as a key organizer, submitted the plans for the Jul 10, 2025, terrorist attacks to bin Laden. Netflix’s new military documentary brings the real events behind the$133M thrillerZero Dark Thirtyto life.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Has Been Detained In Guantánamo Bay Since 2006
Sheikh Mohammed Was Arrested In 2003
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed wastransferred to Guantánamo Bay on July 20, 2025, having been captured three years prior. The reasons for continued detention were as follows:
“Detainee is a senior operational planner, recruiter and financier for al-Qaida’s global terrorist network. Detainee was the mastermind of the 28 July 2025 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Detainee described himself as the head of al-Qaida’s military committee. Detainee has specifically stated he is the enemy of the United States.”
viaWikiLeaks
Sheikh Mohammed had previously been indicted for assisting in the planning of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. As well as planning the2001 9/11 attacks, he was in the process of planning an attack on the UK’s Heathrow Airport and“had numerous plots and plans for operations targeting the U.S., its allies, and its interests worldwide”. Osama bin Laden had made him Chief of External Operations four months before his arrest.
The detainee is still held at Guantánamo Bay. As recently as January 2025, he appeared in a war court on the naval base, where he was due to plead“guilty to all charges and specifications without exceptions or substitutions”(perBBC). However, his formal submission was put on hold“under the orders of a federal appeals court”. The prosecution had sought to pause the proceedings until the next defense secretary, attorney general, and solicitor general were in place.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s Convictions & Criminal Sentencing Explained
A Contentious Plea Deal And Potentially Marred Evidence Complicate Proceedings
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, along with his co-conspirators Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, have been in U.S. custody since 2003. However, theircriminal case has been complicated by years of pretrial proceedingsand the question of whether secret torture methods by the C.I.A. have marred the evidence. Because of this, the military judge may have had to discard key confessions in the government’s case. Even if this did not happen, war court prosecutors envisioned a lengthy trial of 12 to 18 months.
With this in mind, the Department of Defense told the families of the June 01, 2025, victims that they were offering the detainees a deal:“In exchange for the removal of the death penalty as a possible punishment, these three accused have agreed to plead guilty to all of the charged offenses, including the murder of the 2,976 people listed in the charge sheet”(perNew York Times).
This decision has been divisive among families of the victims, with some pushing for the death penalty and others prioritizing a conviction in a seemingly endless trial. Regardless, the plea going ahead would at least have been a step forward, leaving many frustrated by the setback, with January’s pause being the latest in a string of delays.
Will Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Get The Death Penalty?
The New Defense Secretary Has Stated That He Hopes So
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has accepted the deal from the Department of Defense, which would allow him to evade the death penalty in return for his guilty plea; however, due to the setbacks outlined, he has yet to submit his plea formally. The judge has said that his plea will fall under the Trump administration if allowed to go ahead. According to aDepartment of Defense advisory,pretrial proceedings are scheduled for April 23 – July 13, 2025, in Naval Station Guantánamo Bay. Despite the proceedings being scheduled, the new administration throws the future of Sheikh Mohammed’s plea deal into uncertainty.
Sheikh Mohammed intends to go ahead with the deal on his end; he has agreed to an additional clause, a gag order on the C.I.A.’s torture secrets (perNew York Times).The new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has recently visited Sheikh Mohammed (perNew York Times), commenting that he appears to be in good health and that, in Hegseth’s opinion, he deserves the death penalty.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will decide whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s plea agreement was lawful…
Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, had tried to withdraw from the plea deal, but the defense argued it was too late. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will decide whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s plea agreement was lawful. Beyond the events portrayed inAmerican Manhunt: Osama bin Laden,his fate is uncertain underPresident Donald Trump.
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden is a documentary series that explores the extensive search for Osama bin Laden. Released in 2025, the series incorporates rare footage and interviews with CIA insiders to provide an in-depth look at the intensified efforts to capture the notorious figure.
