Washington: Rejecting Saudi Arabia’s bid to dismiss lawsuits alleging it helped orchestrate the 9/11 attacks, a federal judge in the United States, said ruling the plaintiffs “narrowly articulate a reasonable basis” to proceed. Nearly 3,000 people had died in September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The relatives of 9/11 victims sued the Saudi Arabia, in the light of Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, passed by the US Congress in September 2016, saying it provided support to Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden. They also claimed billions of dollars as damages.
James Kreindler, a lawyer for many of the plaintiffs, said he was “delighted” the case can proceed. “We have been pressing to proceed with the case and conduct discovery from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so that the full story can come to light, and expose the Saudi role in the 9/11 attacks.” Reportedly 15 of the 19 perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were Saudis.
It must be noted that US ally Saudi Arabia has persistently denied involvement in the 9/11 attacks. The hijacked planes had crashed into New York’s World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.