Victims' families are seeking to introduce new evidence, including previously suppressed videos, in their ongoing lawsuit accusing Saudi Arabia of complicity in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Federal Appeals Court judges in lower Manhattan are scheduled to hear oral arguments on October 7 regarding the admissibility of this evidence, which families believe demonstrates a connection between the Saudi government and the attacks.
The core of the new evidence centers on Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national who had ties to the Saudi intelligence services and who assisted two of the 9/11 hijackers in securing lodging in California. Families contend that two videos involving al-Bayoumi, kept out of public view for decades, prove he had foreknowledge of the plot and was acting as an agent of the Saudi government.
One video, filmed by al-Bayoumi in 1999 outside the U.S. Capitol, shows him detailing the building and discussing a "plan." Lawyers for the 9/11 families argue this footage constitutes "casing" the building in advance of the attacks, a claim supported by former FBI special agent Bassem Youssef, who provided expert testimony that al-Bayoumi's comments bear "the hallmarks of terror planning operations." The 9/11 Commission report had previously suggested the Capitol was a probable target for United Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania. While the commission stated there was no credible evidence of al-Bayoumi's involvement, its drafters reportedly did not have access to this video.
A second video captures a gathering al-Bayoumi hosted in February 2000 in San Diego for hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar. Attorneys for the 10,000 family members involved in the suit claim this event signaled the hijackers' "special status" and that al-Bayoumi provided them a "cocoon" of support. During the gathering, al-Bayoumi reportedly mentioned that al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar would be "soon traveling." The video also briefly shows al-Mihdhar in the kitchen of the apartment, which had been rented after an introduction from al-Bayoumi.
These videos, seized by British authorities shortly after the 9/11 attacks and handed over to U.S. investigators, were unsealed in court in 2024. Victims' families allege the evidence was intentionally withheld to protect Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally and major oil producer. The Saudi government has consistently denied any involvement in the planning of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Further evidence includes al-Bayoumi's notebook, also seized by British authorities in September 2001. It contains a sketch of an airplane alongside mathematical calculations that an expert witness described as a flight calculation for viewing an object from the air. This notebook was reportedly returned to al-Bayoumi in 2002 and has not been produced by Saudi Arabia or al-Bayoumi in the current litigation, according to court filings by the plaintiffs, who are seeking its inspection.
Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice, stated that the evidence indicates al-Bayoumi was in "constant contact with higher and more senior Saudi government officials" and had "foreknowledge of what the hijackers’ role and intent was." Terri Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United, called the casing video a "very key piece of evidence" that has been verified by CIA analysts.
Al-Bayoumi was questioned by authorities after 9/11 but never charged. He eventually returned to Saudi Arabia. The lawsuit, joined by approximately 10,000 family members of 9/11 victims, seeks to hold the Saudi government accountable for its alleged role in the attacks.