US Court Clears Path for Lawsuit Against Saudi Arabia Over 9/11 Attacks
US Court Clears Path for Lawsuit Against Saudi Arabia Over 9/11 Attacks
————————————–
A federal judge in New York has rejected Saudi Arabia’s request to dismiss a long-running case brought by families of the victims of the September 11 attacks, allowing the lawsuit to proceed, CBS News reported.
Judge George Daniels ruled on Thursday that evidence presented by the families suggesting possible Saudi links to two of the hijackers was “plausible,” while the kingdom’s arguments for dismissal were insufficient.
The lawsuit, filed under the 2016 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, accuses Saudi officials and associates of providing assistance to hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi in Los Angeles. Individuals such as Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy are alleged to have ties to the Saudi government. Evidence cited includes documents recovered from al-Bayoumi’s home, such as flight calculations and sketches of airplanes, as well as FBI files declassified in recent years pointing to his close relationship with Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks, calling the allegations “baseless.” Nonetheless, attorneys for the victims’ families hailed the ruling as a “significant step toward justice,” according to Sky News.
The case has long strained US-Saudi relations and, analysts say, could increase legal and political pressure on Riyadh, which positions itself as a key US ally in the region. For families of the nearly 3,000 victims, the ruling offers a renewed chance—more than two decades later—to seek accountability at the state level for one of history’s deadliest terrorist attacks.
