Romania hosted secret CIA black site used for detainee torture

Ammar al-Baluchi, the nephew of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was one of several men believed to have been held and tortured at a secret CIA prison in Bucharest, Romania, between 2003 and 2005. The facility, referred to in Guantanamo court filings as ‘Detention Site Black’, involved practices such as solitary confinement under constant light, sleep deprivation, dousing with icy water, and physical handling.

A 2024 photo released by Baluchi’s lawyers is believed to be the first published image of a ‘war on terror’ detainee from a CIA black site. While the Romanian agency Orniss has denied hosting the prison, court documents detail the harsh conditions experienced by detainees.

A US military judge has set a trial date for Baluchi for June 5, 2028. The case, which includes other individuals such as Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, has been delayed for over a decade.