A federal judge in New York has rejected Saudi Arabia’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by families and survivors of the September 11 terror attacks, allowing the landmark case to move forward.
U.S. District Judge George Daniels ruled Thursday that plaintiffs had provided sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, citing the possible roles of former Saudi diplomat Fahad al-Thumairy and Saudi national Omar al-Bayoumi in assisting the hijackers. The court concluded that Saudi Arabia’s explanations were “self-contradictory” or too weak to override inferences of support.
Federal judge in New York allows families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia https://t.co/W9SuXNKFTu
— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) August 29, 2025
The lawsuit alleges Riyadh backed an extremist support network that aided the hijackers. Saudi Arabia denies the claims, insisting any contact was innocent. Families of victims praised the ruling as a major step toward accountability.
While 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, the kingdom has long rejected accusations of government involvement. Litigation has persisted for over two decades.
New: More than two decades after victims and families of the 9/11 attacks began trying to hold the Saudi government responsible for aiding the Qaida terrorists who carried out the plot, a judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the kingdom can go to trial. https://t.co/s8GIm0gqUx
— ProPublica (@propublica) August 29, 2025
