Washington, D.C. – The Associated Press reported recently that security costs for the upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other September 11 terror suspects will “considerably exceed” previous estimates of $75 million and that there aren't enough police officers to handle trial security.

Al Qaeda-trained Nigerian terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up a U.S. airplane in Detroit on Christmas Day is also being processed through civilian courts instead of a military tribunal.

And the Associated Press reported today that the Justice Department is considering a criminal trial in Washington for Osama bin Laden's alleged point man in Indonesia, Riduan Isamuddin, who is suspected of masterminding the bombing of a Bali nightclub that killed 202 people. This is a plan that would bring one of the world's most notorious terrorism suspects just steps from the U.S. Capitol.

Next week, I will introduce the “Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act” to mandate that terrorists are treated as enemy combatants and brought before a military tribunal.

Dec 30, 2009 08:51 EST

Security costs will top $75M in NYC terror trial

NYC police chief: Security costs will top $75M in trial of Sept. 11 terror attack suspects

New York police commissioner Raymond Kelly says security for the upcoming trial of the Sept. 11 terror attack suspects will cost much more than the initial estimate of $75 million.

Kelly drafted a security plan Dec. 18 for the upcoming trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others in New York federal court. The men have been charged with war crimes. Kelly says the costs will considerably exceed $75 million, but he would not say how much more. The initial estimate was given Nov. 18.

The NYPD says there aren't enough officers to handle trial security, so much of the cost will come from overtime and it will be impossible to accomplish without federal funds.

There is no trial date yet. No decision has been made on how the cost will be paid.

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