According to a lawsuit filed against the Saudi Arabian government by families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Wahhabi kingdom played a much larger role in the attacks than officials have previously claimed.
According to a 71-page document filed with the court by the plaintiffs’ lawyers, Saudi government officials formed and operated a US-based network that assisted the first group of hijackers in various ways once they arrived in the country.
They allege that the Saudi network included diplomats and intelligence agents, and that both the Saudi embassy in Washington and senior officials in Riyadh were involved.
They point to Fahad Al-Thumairy, a former imam at a Los Angeles mosque and a diplomat at the Saudi consulate, and Omar Al-Bayoumi, who claimed to be a former graduate student but was identified by the FBI as an intelligence agent.
The plaintiffs allege that these individuals, along with other Saudi officials, provided the hijackers with logistical support, including lodging, transportation, and immigration assistance – allegedly enabling the hijacking to take place.
Saudi Arabia denies all allegations
It should be noted that much of the evidence referred to is currently classified, but is expected to be released in the coming weeks. These documents also allegedly prove that several Saudi officials were involved in the attacks.
According to analysts, if the information proves to be correct, it could lead to a deterioration in relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and “shatter” claims that the terrorist group al-Qaeda acted independently and on its own initiative.
It should also be noted that the Saudi government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the September 11 attacks over the years, and has denied the plaintiffs’ allegations during this trial.
The September 11, 2001 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 in the deadliest terrorist attack in US history. Because of the many ambiguities and major flaws in the official account of the events, the September 11 attacks have also been the subject of a variety of alternative theories and hypotheses about what actually happened – a recurring one being that some form of state actor was involved.
