War crimes court complex plan for Guantanamo

The US military is planning to build a £66m (€97m) compound to hold war crimes trials at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, including a two-courtroom facility, dining areas and accommodation for as many as 1,200 people.

The elaborate facility, scheduled to be completed by July, represents one of the most significant upgrades at the isolated base in south-east Cuba since it began taking in men captured by the United States in January 2002.

The Pentagon has not yet submitted the proposal to Congress, which must approve the expenditure. Details of the compound were provided in a “presolicitation notice” posted on the internet for potential government contractors.

The design for the compound, to be constructed near an existing courtroom, includes residential quarters, dining areas and work spaces for those involved in the trials. The contractor would also be responsible for creating “a secure perimeter,” according to the posting.