Mayor Bloomberg yesterday joined a growing chorus of opposition to holding the 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others in federal court in Lower Manhattan.
“If they were to move it elsewhere I’d be very happy with that,” the mayor said. “It’s going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb a lot of people.”
Several business and civic groups oppose the trial for fear it would make the neighborhood a target for terrorism and hurt local businesses and quality of life with heavy-handed security measures.
“My hope is the attorney general and the president decide to change their minds,” Bloomberg said.
On Tuesday night, local Community Board 1 voted 42-0 to ask Attorney General Eric Holder to move the trial’s location. The group’s suggestions included federal court in White Plains, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Governors Island.
