New Evidence Raises Fresh Questions Over Saudi Intelligence Links to 9/11 Hijackers

Newly examined evidence has raised fresh questions about the role of Saudi intelligence operative Omar al-Bayoumi in assisting two of the September 11 hijackers before the 2001 attacks. A ProPublica investigation reported that British authorities seized extensive material from Bayoumi in 2001, including videotapes, documents and a handwritten diagram appearing to calculate an aircraft’s trajectory. Much of the evidence was not fully examined or widely shared within the FBI at the time.

Bayoumi, who lived in San Diego, helped hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar after they arrived in California in January 2000. Later FBI investigations also found that Bayoumi had worked as a part-time Saudi intelligence asset and maintained contacts with Saudi religious officials and figures linked to al-Qaeda.

The findings have become significant evidence in a continuing lawsuit by 9/11 victims’ families against Saudi Arabia, which has consistently denied involvement in the attacks.