Newly obtained videos show Omar al-Bayoumi, a key figure in a $1 trillion lawsuit by 9/11 families, with connections to Saudi officials and Anwar al-Awlaki, a future al-Qaeda leader. The footage, which the FBI had shortly after the 2001 attacks, contradicts Bayoumi's claims of being a non-extremist. In one clip, he is seen embracing al-Awlaki, and in another, they are paintballing with a Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs official.
The lawsuit alleges Saudi Arabia's complicity in the 9/11 attacks, claiming Bayoumi assisted two of the hijackers. Evidence, including a diagram of a plane with descent calculations, was found among Bayoumi's possessions after his arrest in the UK shortly after the attacks. This diagram was shared with multiple FBI agents but was not disclosed to British interrogators or the 9/11 Commission.
Bayoumi, who arrived in San Diego from Saudi Arabia in 1994, was involved in organizing religious events and was linked to the first two hijackers through an apartment rental agreement. He was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on September 21, 2001, and evidence was collected from his properties, including documents and videotapes.
Despite the evidence, the US Department of Justice did not pursue prosecution, citing insufficient evidence. Bayoumi was released on September 28, 2001. The FBI continued to analyze the evidence against him after his release, with the plane diagram being sent to the New York Field Office for further examination.
The lawsuit has led to the release of thousands of documents and videos, with the latest evidence being made public following a court ruling in 2018 and an executive order by former President Joe Biden. The BBC's Panorama and Radio 4 have investigated the evidence surrounding Bayoumi and Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in the attacks, questioning why it was not fully pursued over the past 25 years.