Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others, accused of masterminding 9/11, have reached a plea agreement.

Three of the five men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks, including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, have reached a plea deal with prosecutors. The Department of Defense announced the agreement, which removes the possibility of the death penalty, resulting in life sentences for the defendants. This plea deal resolves a trial that had faced significant legal delays for nearly a decade. Besides Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi are also part of the agreement.

Families of the 9/11 victims were informed of the deal via a letter from Rear Admiral Aaron Rugh, the chief prosecutor. The agreement stipulates that the defendants will plead guilty to all charges, including the murders of 2,976 people, and will be sentenced by a military panel. They are also required to answer questions from verified 9/11 family members about their involvement in the attacks, with responses due within 90 days.

The White House National Security Council confirmed that the president was not involved in the plea negotiations. While two other defendants did not join the plea deal, Ammar al Baluchi might face trial, and Ramzi bin al Shibh was declared mentally incompetent for trial last year.

Brett Eagleson from 9/11 Justice expressed concern over the lack of transparency and access to information for victims’ families, while the ACLU supported the decision, citing the need for closure after years of legal battles. The plea agreement follows a recommendation by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to avoid the defendants’ demands related to their detention conditions.