WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Guantanamo Bay detainee from Saudi Arabia -- who is also the brother-in-law of a September 11, 2001, hijacker -- faces terrorism charges, the U.S. Office of Military Commissions said Friday.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi is being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi is accused of plotting attacks on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and off the Yemeni coast.
He was charged with conspiring with others to attack civilians, to murder in violation of the law of war and to destroy property in violation in of the law of war, the office said in a statement.
He was also charged with conspiring to hazard a vessel and to commit terrorism, as well as providing material support to terrorism.
Prosecutors allege that al Darbi traveled to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where he met with Osama bin Laden, trained at al Qaeda's Jihad Wahl training camp and later was a weapons instructor at another al Qaeda camp.
From 2001 through 2002, authorities believe al Darbi moved money from al Qaeda into banks to finance a plot to attack the vessel, the statement said.
Al Darbi allegedly prepared for an al Qaeda attack by traveling to several countries to buy a GPS device, a boat and other equipment in late 2000 or early 2002, the office said.
He registered the boat as the "al Rahal" under his own name under the Sao Tome flag, and bought a second boat to teach Yemenis how to swim and how to operate it, authorities said.
In the spring of 2002, al Darbi left the United Arab Emirates on the boat headed for Yemen, but diverted to Somalia because of concerns with his passport -- discussing those plans by satellite phone, the office said.
Al Darbi is the brother-in-law of Khalid al-Mihdhar, a hijacker aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, the military said.
Sworn charges must be forwarded for review to a convening authority, which can then refer them to trial or may dismiss them, the office said.
If the charges are referred to trial, a judge and trial dates will be named later. E-mail to a friend 
All About Osama bin Laden • Al Qaeda • September 11 Attacks
From the Blogs: 
Sit tight, we're getting to the good stuff
