An alleged al Qaida leader has confessed to masterminding almost every terrorist atrocity of the past 14 years, the US administration said.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told interviewers he was behind a series of plans including the September 11 attacks, Bali bombings and shoe bomber plot. In a list of 31 plots spanning the globe, he also admitted to planning a series of strikes on UK targets including Big Ben, Heathrow Airport and Canary Wharf.
The Guantanamo Bay detainee said he killed Daniel Pearl and photos of him holding the American journalist's severed head can be found on the internet.
The admissions were made during a military hearing at the controversial Cuban base, according to a transcript released by the US military.
Mohammed, who was arrested in Pakistan in March 2003, is believed to be have been number three in bin Laden's al Qaida network.
But the claims were met with scepticism by campaigning groups who have condemned the US plans for military tribunals as well as conditions inside Guantanamo. One senior campaigner said it appeared there are few terrorist events left to charge others with.
Amnesty International said Mohammed's confession should carry a health warning because of the secretive and unfair process in which it was made.
Clive Stafford Smith, founder of Reprieve, said allegations of mistreatment within Guantanamo jeopardised any chance of Mohammed ever facing a civilian trial.
The UK Government welcomed news the US is pressing ahead with prosecuting terrorist suspects, but reiterated its belief that Guantanamo should be closed.
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US Department of Defence spokesman Bryan Whitman said the authorities would decide how credible Mohammed's claims are. "These are his words," he said.
