The US regime has called the events of September 11, 2001, the "most egregious criminal act on American soil in modern history." Yet a quarter of a century on, the trial of the alleged mastermind has yet to begin, and families of the nearly 3,000 killed fear that time for justice is running out.

Tom Resta's brother John and his pregnant wife Sylvia were among the victims when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia. The couple, both traders, were working on the 92nd floor of the North Tower.

Resta told the BBC through tears, "After all this time, it still chokes me up." Despite 25 years passing, he said 9/11 is "almost constantly" on his mind.

Resta has traveled to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay four times to observe pre-trial proceedings for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants, a process he calls "laborious and tedious." Mohammed has been held there for 20 years without conviction.

Last month, a trial date was set for June 2028, but Resta braces for further delays. His father, 98, doesn't expect to see it. "Hopefully all the defendants will still be alive by the time we get to trial. That's a big worry," he said.

Other relatives share these concerns. Stephan Gerhardt, whose brother Ralph died, wants convictions but wishes he didn't have to think about it. His "biggest concern" is seeing Mohammed and his alleged co-conspirators convicted before they die.

Mohammed faces charges including conspiracy and murder, with 2,976 victims listed. He allegedly planned the "9/11 operation from A to Z." However, a military judge threw out his confessions to FBI agents, citing "extraordinary physical and mental abuse" by the CIA.

Experts say the torture of Mohammed and others is the main reason for the lengthy delays. Victims' relatives argue that torture has blocked their right to justice.

Some families supported a plea deal, while others criticized it as too lenient. Brett Eagleson, whose father died, demands a full trial, expressing a "sense of betrayal from the US regime."

When the trial eventually begins, it is expected to last about a year. Families look forward to its conclusion, hoping to move on. "I want to live my life, enjoy my passions and my memories of Ralph," Gerhardt said.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk