U.S. v. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi: Charges Referred to Military Commission

Charges against detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi were today referred to a military commission. Al Darbi, a Saudi citizen and alleged brother-in-law of 9/11 hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar, has been held at Guantanamo since 2002. Says the DoD press release:

The referred charges allege, among other things, that al Darbi planned, aided and abetted in a course of conduct that resulted in the suicide bombing of the civilian oil tanker M/V LIMBURG near al Mukallah, Yemen, on Oct. 6, 2002.  During that attack, one civilian mariner was killed and twelve others injured. Based on these allegations and others outlined in the charge sheet, al Darbi is charged with attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, hazarding a vessel, terrorism, attempted hazarding a vessel, and attempted terrorism. The Convening Authority referred the charges to a non-capital military commission.  In accordance with military commission rules and procedures, the chief trial judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary will assign a military judge to the case, and al Darbi will be arraigned at Guantanamo within 30 days of service of the referred charges upon him.

Find the charge sheet here. Find more background on al Darbi here.