The US Federal Intelligence Bureau (FBI) on Saturday released the first documents relating to the investigation into the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Saudi government’s allegations of support for the kidnappers, following executive orders from US President Joe Biden.
Relatives of the victims told Biden not to attend memorial events to mark his 20th birthday on Saturday if he did not release documents that say authorities in Saudi Arabia supported the bombings. did.
A 16-page partially edited document released by the FBI uncovered contacts between the kidnappers and Saudi allies, but there is no evidence that the government was involved in the attacks in Riyadh that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Saudi Arabia claims it played no role in the attacks. The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters news agency sent late on Saturday.
In a statement issued on September 8, the embassy said that Saudi Arabia had always advocated transparency around the events of September 11, 2001, and welcomed the US release of classified documents related to the attacks.
Of the 19 hijackers, 15 were from Saudi Arabia. A US government commission found no evidence that Saudi Arabia directly finances al Qaeda. It remains to be seen whether Saudi officials could have done so personally.
The families of nearly 2,500 dead and more than 20,000 injured, with companies and several insurance companies suing Saudi Arabia in search of billions of dollars.
In a statement on behalf of 9/11 Family United, Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed on September 11, said the document released by the FBI on Saturday removed any doubts about Saudi involvement in the attacks. Had done it.
“Now the Saudi secrets are exposed and it is time for Saudi agents to play the role of killing thousands of people on American soil,” the statement said.
