Saudi Arabia on Brink of Devastating 9/11 Trial as US Judge Rules They Must Face Justice Over Alleged Role in Terror Attacks That Killed 3,000
- Federal judge says Saudi government agents provided ‘essential support’ to 9/11 hijackers
- 9/11 survivors, first responders, and family members demand President Trump hold Saudi Arabia accountable
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Washington DC amidst calls for justice and accountability
In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves through the US political establishment, a federal judge has ruled that Saudi Arabia must stand trial over its alleged role in the devastating 9/11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The decision comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepares to visit Washington DC, sparking outrage among 9/11 survivors, first responders, and family members who are demanding that President Donald Trump hold the Saudi government accountable.
“The backdrop to this visit is the recent ruling of a federal judge in New York that Saudi Arabia must stand trial for its role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks that murdered 3,000 of our loved ones,” said Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice, whose father died in the attacks. “As Washington prepares to roll out the red carpet for the Saudi Crown Prince, we want to shine a spotlight on the facts found by the court, the overwhelming evidence of Saudi government support for the 9/11 plot, and the families’ nearly 25-year fight for justice.”
The judge’s ruling, made in August, implicates Saudi Arabia in the 9/11 attacks, alleging that government agents provided “essential support” to the hijackers. The allegations center around Omar al-Bayoumi and Sheikh Al Fahad Thumairy, two individuals accused of helping the hijackers.
Bayoumi, who has significant ties to the Saudi government, allegedly helped the hijackers find an apartment, co-signing the lease and listing himself as the guarantor. According to declassified FBI documents, Bayoumi also traveled to Washington DC alongside two Saudi government officials employed by the embassy.
Evidence also showed that Bayoumi and the Saudi officials met with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, in San Diego. A subsequent letter from Bayoumi to Thumairy thanked him for coordinating the trip that “provided us with brothers Mutaeb Al-Sudairy and Adel Al-sadhan.”
Thumairy, who left the US for Saudi Arabia shortly before the 9/11 attacks, is accused of having met with the hijackers when they first came to California in early 2000. He denies the allegation despite being pictured with them.
As President Trump prepares to host the Crown Prince for talks on Tuesday, 9/11 families are urging him to demand accountability from Saudi Arabia. “We want to make sure that President Trump knows that the 9/11 hijackers did not act alone, and that the Saudi government’s support for them was instrumental in the success of their murderous plot,” said Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. However, President Trump has made it clear that improving diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia is a priority, and he has expressed hope that the kingdom will join the Abraham Accords “very shortly.”