US to air 9/11 hearing from Guantanamo at 4 bases in Northeast, rather than planned 6 spots

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...9rT_story.html

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, April 30, 4:48 PM

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The arraignment of the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and four other Guantanamo Bay prisoners will be broadcast to only six sites at four military bases in the U.S. Northeast, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday.

A military judge had authorized closed-circuit TV at eight sites in six locations but not all of those spots will be ready for Saturday’s arraignment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants on charges of helping to plan and carry out the attacks, Army Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale said.

Families of people killed in the attacks can view the proceedings at Fort Hamilton in New York City; Joint Base McGuire Dix in Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

Firefighters and other emergency services personnel who responded to the attacks as well as relatives of the first-responders who were killed can view the proceedings at a separate facility at Fort Hamilton, Breasseale said.

Viewing sites for the general public and media will be at Fort Meade, Maryland.

A planned Fort Meade viewing site for family members of victims won’t be ready in time for Saturday’s hearing and an additional site in the Washington area is still under consideration, the spokesman said.

Mohammed and his co-defendants are expected to be arraigned on charges that include terrorism and murder. They could get the death penalty if convicted.