<p>Another anniversary of 9/11 is here, but the United States has yet to convict or sentence any of those arrested alive over links to the horrific terror attacks of 2001. The 11 September 2001 terror attacks left an estimated 2,996 people dead. Of these, 2,977 were civilians and first responders, including people in the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the passengers and crew aboard the hijacked planes. The 19 terrorists who hijacked four planes died while carrying out the dastardly attacks.</p><h2>How the 9/11 terror attack unfolded&nbsp;</h2><p>American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, while United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers bravely fought the hijackers. The hijackers of this plane were believed to be targeting either the White House or the Capitol.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lashkar-operative-in-charge-of-lets-headquarters-in-muridke-neutralised-9060744//embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/lashkar-operative-in-charge-of-lets-headquarters-in-muridke-neutralised-9060744//embed</a></p><h2>What is the status of the suspects caught alive after the 9/11 attacks?</h2><p>As the perpetrators died in the terror attacks, the investigation and arrests focused on the conspirators, planners, and facilitators. Yet, nearly a quarter-century later, there have been no convictions or sentencing. The man known as the mastermind of the attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay since 2006, and his trial has been continuing sporadically for over a decade. There has never been any official talk of him being released. However, plea deals were discussed that might have ruled out the death penalty for him.</p><p>9/11 terror attack legal quandary: Nobody was convicted or sentenced to death</p><p>Despite the United States having the death penalty in several states and within the military commission system, no individuals have been convicted or sentenced to death for their roles in the 11 September 2001 attacks.&nbsp;<br>The attacks were carried out by the al-Qaeda terror group, led by Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in Pakistan in 2011 in a US Marines raid.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nasa-shares-haunting-image-of-911-attacks-captured-from-space-758080">NASA shares haunting image of 9/11 attacks captured from space</a></p><h2>Who are the five key people charged with orchestrating the attack?</h2><p>Five men have been charged with terrorism offences related to 9/11. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is the alleged mastermind of the attacks. Walid bin Attash is accused of training the hijackers. Mustafa al-Hawsawi is accused of financing the operation. Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, also known as Ammar al-Baluchi, is accused of facilitating logistics and money transfers. Ramzi bin al-Shibh is accused of acting as a liaison between the hijackers and al-Qaeda leadership. All five are being tried before military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/remembering-9-11-heroes-roselle-the-guide-dog-who-led-a-blind-man-down-78-floors-1757560386032/amp">Remembering 9/11 heroes: Roselle, the guide dog who led a blind man down 78 floors</a></p><h2>The controversial plea agreement of the 9/11 mastermind</h2><p>There was widespread controversy in July 2024, when a plea agreement was proposed that would have allowed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences without parole, thereby avoiding the death penalty.&nbsp;<br>Following public and political backlash, the then US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin rescinded the deal.&nbsp;<br>In July 2025, a federal appeals court ruled that the plea agreements were not binding, thereby reinstating the possibility of the death penalty.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-khalid-sheikh-mohammed-the-alleged-mastermind-of-911-attacks-wholl-avoid-death-penalty-746130">Who is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11 attacks who'll avoid death penalty?</a></p><h2>What is the current status of the 9/11 terror attack suspects?</h2><p>At the time of writing this, none of the accused have been convicted or sentenced, even after 24 years.&nbsp;<br>The trials have been marred by frequent delays, legal wrangling, and disputes over evidence, particularly material obtained under torture.&nbsp;<br>There have also been concerns about human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay. Many hearings have been cancelled or rescheduled due to changes in legal teams, mental competency issues, and disputes over classified evidence.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-admin-launches-review-of-us-troops-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-timeline-from-9-11-attack-to-end-of-20-year-war-wion-explains-1747825811137">Trump admin launches review of US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan: Timeline from 9/11 attack to end of '20-year-war' | WION Explains</a></p><h2>Justice delayed, justice denied: Why the 9/11 case is a stain on US legal history</h2><p>The 9/11 case is arguably one of the most prolonged and controversial in US legal history.&nbsp;<br>Many families of victims are frustrated and disillusioned by the lack of justice.&nbsp;<br>The United States used the 9/11 attacks as a justification to invade Afghanistan in 2001, but withdrew in 2021. The Taliban, originally ousted as a result of that invasion, returned to power amid the chaotic American exit.&nbsp;<br>The global anti-terror sentiment after 9/11 was also used to invade Iraq under the false pretext that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. He was captured, tried, and executed in 2006, even though Iraq had no role in the 9/11 attacks.&nbsp;<br>In contrast, none of those captured alive for direct links to the 9/11 attacks have been convicted, executed, or even sentenced.&nbsp;<br>This remains a historical irony and an enduring failure of the US approach to justice and counterterrorism.<br>&nbsp;</p>

24 years after the 9/11 terror attacks, no detained suspect has been convicted or sentenced despite ongoing trials at Guantanamo Bay. Victim families are frustrated and justice still unserved as it remains among the longest terror cases in the US 

Another anniversary of 9/11 is here, but the United States has yet to convict or sentence any of those arrested alive over links to the horrific terror attacks of 2001. The 11 September 2001 terror attacks left an estimated 2,996 people dead. Of these, 2,977 were civilians and first responders, including people in the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the passengers and crew aboard the hijacked planes. The 19 terrorists who hijacked four planes died while carrying out the dastardly attacks. How the 9/11 terror attack unfolded American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, while United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers bravely fought the hijackers. The hijackers of this plane were believed to be targeting either the White House or the Capitol. https://www.wionews.com/videos/lashkar-operative-in-charge-of-lets-headquarters-in-muridke-neutralised-9060744//embed What is the status of the suspects caught alive after the 9/11 attacks? As the perpetrators died in the terror attacks, the investigation and arrests focused on the conspirators, planners, and facilitators. Yet, nearly a quarter-century later, there have been no convictions or sentencing. The man known as the mastermind of the attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay since 2006, and his trial has been continuing sporadically for over a decade. There has never been any official talk of him being released. However, plea deals were discussed that might have ruled out the death penalty for him. 9/11 terror attack legal quandary: Nobody was convicted or sentenced to death Despite the United States having the death penalty in several states and within the military commission system, no individuals have been convicted or sentenced to death for their roles in the 11 September 2001 attacks. The attacks were carried out by the al-Qaeda terror group, led by Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in Pakistan in 2011 in a US Marines raid. Also read: NASA shares haunting image of 9/11 attacks captured from space Who are the five key people charged with orchestrating the attack? Five men have been charged with terrorism offences related to 9/11. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is the alleged mastermind of the attacks. Walid bin Attash is accused of training the hijackers. Mustafa al-Hawsawi is accused of financing the operation. Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, also known as Ammar al-Baluchi, is accused of facilitating logistics and money transfers. Ramzi bin al-Shibh is accused of acting as a liaison between the hijackers and al-Qaeda leadership. All five are being tried before military commissions at Guantanamo Bay. Also read: Remembering 9/11 heroes: Roselle, the guide dog who led a blind man down 78 floors The controversial plea agreement of the 9/11 mastermind There was widespread controversy in July 2024, when a plea agreement was proposed that would have allowed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences without parole, thereby avoiding the death penalty. Following public and political backlash, the then US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin rescinded the deal. In July 2025, a federal appeals court ruled that the plea agreements were not binding, thereby reinstating the possibility of the death penalty. Also read: Who is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11 attacks who'll avoid death penalty? What is the current status of the 9/11 terror attack suspects? At the time of writing this, none of the accused have been convicted or sentenced, even after 24 years. The trials have been marred by frequent delays, legal wrangling, and disputes over evidence, particularly material obtained under torture. There have also been concerns about human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay. Many hearings have been cancelled or rescheduled due to changes in legal teams, mental competency issues, and disputes over classified evidence. Also read: Trump admin launches review of US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan: Timeline from 9/11 attack to end of '20-year-war' | WION Explains Justice delayed, justice denied: Why the 9/11 case is a stain on US legal history The 9/11 case is arguably one of the most prolonged and controversial in US legal history. Many families of victims are frustrated and disillusioned by the lack of justice. The United States used the 9/11 attacks as a justification to invade Afghanistan in 2001, but withdrew in 2021. The Taliban, originally ousted as a result of that invasion, returned to power amid the chaotic American exit. The global anti-terror sentiment after 9/11 was also used to invade Iraq under the false pretext that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. He was captured, tried, and executed in 2006, even though Iraq had no role in the 9/11 attacks. In contrast, none of those captured alive for direct links to the 9/11 attacks have been convicted, executed, or even sentenced. This remains a historical irony and an enduring failure of the US approach to justice and counterterrorism.

<p>24 years after the 9/11 terror attacks, no detained suspect has been convicted or sentenced despite ongoing trials at Guantanamo Bay. Victim families are frustrated and justice still unserved as it remains among the longest terror cases in the US&nbsp;</p>

9/11 anniversary: Justice delayed, justice denied? How the US failed to convict or sentence any of the suspects caught after 24 years

<p>It's been 24 years since 9/11, and stories of bravery and human resilience from the fateful day continue to fascinate the world even today. One such tale is of the blind man Michael Hingson, his guide dog Roselle and how she saved not only him, but also 30 other people. She guided Hingson down from the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Towers, after the first plane struck. Moments later, the building collapsed. Roselle remained calm amid all the hullabaloo and the flying debris, helped Hingson reach a subway station. They then helped a woman here who had lost her sight because of the falling debris. Roselle even appeared on TV shows and was awarded for her bravery. Her resilience led Hingson to become a motivational speaker and to write a book about her.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Guide dog Roselle, who saved a blind man and 30 others after the 9/11 attacks</strong></h2><p>Hingson was on the 78th floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center working a job on September 11, 2001. Since he was blind, he had a guide dog with him. Roselle had been with him since 1999. A loud noise and shaking jolted them both. She was sleeping under his desk when the American Airlines Flight 11 struck 15 floors above them. Moments later, chaos ensued as smoke started to fill the building. As everyone ran helter-skelter to understand what was going on, Roselle calmly did what she knew she had to do. She guided Hingson to stairwell B to help him get out of the building. However, they were on the 78th floor, and had to descend 1,463 steps to exit the tower. Amid everything that was going on, Roselle ensured Hingon climbed down the stairs safely. Thirty others also joined them to save themselves from the tragic attack.<br>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Hingson, visually challenged, with his guide dog &#39;Roselle&#39;, who led him and 30 others down 78 stories out of the World Trade Center on 9/11. 🐶🐕 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dogsarelove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dogsarelove</a><a href="https://t.co/rgHVw3c1up">https://t.co/rgHVw3c1up</a> <a href="https://t.co/A8hc6rHxBi">pic.twitter.com/A8hc6rHxBi</a></p>&mdash; Abhishek Joshi 👨‍💻🐶 (@kaalicharan) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaalicharan/status/1254844140791066624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Roselle led all of them out of the building in over an hour. Soon after they were out, Tower 2 came crashing down like a pack of cards. Debris flung everywhere, and even hit them, yet Roselle did not give in. She led Hingson to the safety of a subway station and also saved another woman. Roselle's story of bravery made headlines everywhere. She became famous for saving her owner and 30 others on 9/11. Hingson switched careers, quitting as a computer salesman to become a Public Affairs Director for the Guide Dogs for the Blind. They appeared on several TV shows, as people applauded Roselle.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Book on Roselle, the guide dog</strong></h2><p>She retired as a guide dog in March 200,7 as medications for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia had started damaging her kidneys. Hingson was assigned a new guide dog, but Roselle continued to live with him. In 2011, she died two days after the doctor found she had stomach ulcers. Hingson got together with author Susy Flory to write a book talking about Roselle's bravery. Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero went on to become a New York Times Bestseller. He and his wife, Karen, set up the Roselle's Dream Foundation, a charitable foundation to help visually-impaired people live a normal life.</p>

24 years since the September 11 attacks on the New York Twin Towers: A blind man survived the terrorist attack because of his guide dog, who helped him descend 1,463 to reach the ground from the 78th floor.

It's been 24 years since 9/11, and stories of bravery and human resilience from the fateful day continue to fascinate the world even today. One such tale is of the blind man Michael Hingson, his guide dog Roselle and how she saved not only him, but also 30 other people. She guided Hingson down from the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Towers, after the first plane struck. Moments later, the building collapsed. Roselle remained calm amid all the hullabaloo and the flying debris, helped Hingson reach a subway station. They then helped a woman here who had lost her sight because of the falling debris. Roselle even appeared on TV shows and was awarded for her bravery. Her resilience led Hingson to become a motivational speaker and to write a book about her. Guide dog Roselle, who saved a blind man and 30 others after the 9/11 attacks Hingson was on the 78th floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center working a job on September 11, 2001. Since he was blind, he had a guide dog with him. Roselle had been with him since 1999. A loud noise and shaking jolted them both. She was sleeping under his desk when the American Airlines Flight 11 struck 15 floors above them. Moments later, chaos ensued as smoke started to fill the building. As everyone ran helter-skelter to understand what was going on, Roselle calmly did what she knew she had to do. She guided Hingson to stairwell B to help him get out of the building. However, they were on the 78th floor, and had to descend 1,463 steps to exit the tower. Amid everything that was going on, Roselle ensured Hingon climbed down the stairs safely. Thirty others also joined them to save themselves from the tragic attack.

<p>24 years since the September 11 attacks on the New York Twin Towers: A blind man survived the terrorist attack because of his guide dog, who helped him descend 1,463 to reach the ground from the 78th floor.</p>

Remembering 9/11 heroes: Roselle, the guide dog who led a blind man down 78 floors

<p>A US federal appeals court has struck down a controversial plea agreement that would have spared the alleged 9/11 mastermind and two accomplices the death penalty. On Friday (Jul 11), in a major legal reversal, a US appeals court nullified the plea agreements struck with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others accused in the September 11, 2001, attacks. This clears the way for military trials that could lead to the death penalty. The ruling ends months of uncertainty surrounding the case and restores the possibility of full trials for Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi — all detained for over two decades at Guantánamo Bay.</p><h2><strong>What did the court say?</strong></h2><p>In their ruling, judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao ruled that former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin "acted within the bounds of his legal authority, and we decline to second-guess his judgment." This relates to Austin abruptly withdrawing support for the plea deals last year, saying that "the families of the victims, our service members and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commission trials carried out in this case."</p><h2><strong>9/11 trial back on track?</strong></h2><p>The plea agreements, announced in July 2023, would have taken the death penalty off the table for Mohammed as well as two alleged accomplices - Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi in exchange for guilty pleas and cooperation. However, the pleas were withdrawn by Austin just two days after they were announced, after an outcry from victims' families who demanded full trials.</p><p>In Friday's decision, the court also vacated "the military judge's order of November 6, 2024, preventing the secretary of defence's withdrawal from the pretrial agreements." It also bars any future hearings related to the withdrawn plea deals and blocks the military judge “from conducting hearings in which respondents would enter guilty pleas or take any other action pursuant to the withdrawn pretrial agreements.”</p><p>This puts the 9/11 case — arguably the most important terrorism prosecution in US history — back on a trial track after years of legal gridlock, much of it centred around the CIA's use of torture. Mohammed, who claims to have masterminded the 9/11 attacks "from A to Z", was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and transferred to Guantánamo in 2006 after being held in secret CIA prisons, where he was allegedly subjected to torturous, harsh interrogation techniques.<br>&nbsp;</p>

This clears the way for military trials that could lead to the death penalty. The ruling ends months of uncertainty surrounding the case and restores the possibility of full trials for Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi — all detained for over two decades at Guantánamo Bay.

A US federal appeals court has struck down a controversial plea agreement that would have spared the alleged 9/11 mastermind and two accomplices the death penalty. On Friday (Jul 11), in a major legal reversal, a US appeals court nullified the plea agreements struck with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others accused in the September 11, 2001, attacks. This clears the way for military trials that could lead to the death penalty. The ruling ends months of uncertainty surrounding the case and restores the possibility of full trials for Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi — all detained for over two decades at Guantánamo Bay. What did the court say? In their ruling, judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao ruled that former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin "acted within the bounds of his legal authority, and we decline to second-guess his judgment." This relates to Austin abruptly withdrawing support for the plea deals last year, saying that "the families of the victims, our service members and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commission trials carried out in this case." 9/11 trial back on track? The plea agreements, announced in July 2023, would have taken the death penalty off the table for Mohammed as well as two alleged accomplices - Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi in exchange for guilty pleas and cooperation. However, the pleas were withdrawn by Austin just two days after they were announced, after an outcry from victims' families who demanded full trials. In Friday's decision, the court also vacated "the military judge's order of November 6, 2024, preventing the secretary of defence's withdrawal from the pretrial agreements." It also bars any future hearings related to the withdrawn plea deals and blocks the military judge “from conducting hearings in which respondents would enter guilty pleas or take any other action pursuant to the withdrawn pretrial agreements.” This puts the 9/11 case — arguably the most important terrorism prosecution in US history — back on a trial track after years of legal gridlock, much of it centred around the CIA's use of torture. Mohammed, who claims to have masterminded the 9/11 attacks "from A to Z", was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and transferred to Guantánamo in 2006 after being held in secret CIA prisons, where he was allegedly subjected to torturous, harsh interrogation techniques.

<p>This clears the way for military trials that could lead to the death penalty. The ruling ends months of uncertainty surrounding the case and restores the possibility of full trials for Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi — all detained for over two decades at Guantánamo Bay.</p>

9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed faces death penalty after US court overturns controversial plea deal

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidL7LI0N59P6qA" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidL7LI0N59P6qA" /></p>

<p>Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001, when&nbsp;hijacked jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. For more than 20 years, the US position has been that the terror group Al Qaeda acted alone on that day.</p>

<p>However, American media reports on Thursday (June 20) said that a newly released video has raised questions about whether Saudi Arabia provided&nbsp;crucial assistance to the hijackers during the attacks. All the hijackers were from, or had links to, Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>The video was unsealed in federal court earlier this week, and obtained by&nbsp;60 Minutes, a report by CBS News said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The 1999 video</strong></h2>

<p>The video was shot in the summer of 1999, three months before&nbsp;Al Qaeda decided to carry out the attacks. The video features&nbsp;Omar al-Bayoumi, whom the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described as&nbsp;an operative of the Saudi intelligence service with close ties to two of the 9/11 hijackers.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-judge-rules-911-defendant-unfit-for-trial-citing-ptsd-delusional-disorder-diagnoses-638801">US judge rules 9/11 defendant unfit for trial, citing PTSD and psychosis</a></strong></p>

<p>Retired FBI agent Richard Lambert, who had led&nbsp;the initial 9/11 investigation in San Diego, said, "It is another very large brick in a massive wall of evidence that at this point indicates the Saudi government was complicit in the 9/11 attacks."</p>

<h2><strong>The contents of the video</strong></h2>

<p>The video showed Bayoumi filming the footage over several days. It showed&nbsp;entrances and exits of the US&nbsp;Capitol along with security posts and a model of the building.</p>

<p>At one point, the man could be seen pointing out the&nbsp;Washington Monument, and saying he would go there&nbsp;and "report to you in detail what is there."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lambert told CBS News that the knowledge of&nbsp;where the Washington Monument was in relation to other DC landmarks could help guide people toward intended targets. The retired FBI agent is now a consultant on the case filed by the families of 9/11 victims to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for the attacks.</p>

<p>Federal investigators believe that hijackers on Flight 93, which crashed near&nbsp;Shanksville, had the Capitol as their likely target.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;9/11 anniversary: 22 years since the deadliest attack in US history</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/911-anniversary-22-years-since-the-deadliest-attack-in-us-history-634833/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Speaking to 60 Minutes, lawyers of the affected families and former intelligence&nbsp;analysts&nbsp;believed portions of the video showed Bayoumi surveilling the Capitol as part of that plan.</p>

<p>"I think he's talking to the al Qaeda planners who tasked him to take the pre-operational surveillance video of the intended target," Lambert said.</p>

<h2><strong>Why was the video made public after so long?</strong></h2>

<p>The 1999 video was found by the British Police when they carried out a raid on&nbsp;Bayoumi's apartment in the UK just days after the attacks. When Bayoumi recorded this video,&nbsp;he was often with two Saudi diplomats who the FBI said had ties to Al Qaeda. Riyadh has disputed this finding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is believed that the British Police&nbsp;turned over the video to the FBI shortly after 9/11, and this has raised questions about why was the footage surfacing after two decades.</p>

<p>"If that was missed then shame on us for missing it. If it wasn't missed, then I would have to ask the question: What was done with it?" said retired FBI agent&nbsp;&nbsp;Ken Williams who led the investigation in Phoenix.</p>

<p>Both Bayoumi and Saudi Arabia have denied any involvement in the attacks. Lawyers for the Saudi government&nbsp;filed a motion to dismiss the case, and oral&nbsp;arguments are scheduled in the near future.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001, when hijacked jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. For more than 20 years, the US position has been that the terror group Al Qaeda acted alone on that day.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001, when hijacked jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. For more than 20 years, the US position has been that the terror group Al Qaeda acted alone on that day. However, American media reports on Thursday (June 20) said that a newly released video has raised questions about whether Saudi Arabia provided crucial assistance to the hijackers during the attacks. All the hijackers were from, or had links to, Saudi Arabia. The video was unsealed in federal court earlier this week, and obtained by 60 Minutes, a report by CBS News said. The 1999 video The video was shot in the summer of 1999, three months before Al Qaeda decided to carry out the attacks. The video features Omar al-Bayoumi, whom the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described as an operative of the Saudi intelligence service with close ties to two of the 9/11 hijackers. Also read | US judge rules 9/11 defendant unfit for trial, citing PTSD and psychosis Retired FBI agent Richard Lambert, who had led the initial 9/11 investigation in San Diego, said, "It is another very large brick in a massive wall of evidence that at this point indicates the Saudi government was complicit in the 9/11 attacks." The contents of the video The video showed Bayoumi filming the footage over several days. It showed entrances and exits of the US Capitol along with security posts and a model of the building. At one point, the man could be seen pointing out the Washington Monument, and saying he would go there and "report to you in detail what is there." Lambert told CBS News that the knowledge of where the Washington Monument was in relation to other DC landmarks could help guide people toward intended targets. The retired FBI agent is now a consultant on the case filed by the families of 9/11 victims to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for the attacks. Federal investigators believe that hijackers on Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, had the Capitol as their likely target. Also watch | 9/11 anniversary: 22 years since the deadliest attack in US history × Speaking to 60 Minutes, lawyers of the affected families and former intelligence analysts believed portions of the video showed Bayoumi surveilling the Capitol as part of that plan. "I think he's talking to the al Qaeda planners who tasked him to take the pre-operational surveillance video of the intended target," Lambert said. Why was the video made public after so long? The 1999 video was found by the British Police when they carried out a raid on Bayoumi's apartment in the UK just days after the attacks. When Bayoumi recorded this video, he was often with two Saudi diplomats who the FBI said had ties to Al Qaeda. Riyadh has disputed this finding. It is believed that the British Police turned over the video to the FBI shortly after 9/11, and this has raised questions about why was the footage surfacing after two decades. "If that was missed then shame on us for missing it. If it wasn't missed, then I would have to ask the question: What was done with it?" said retired FBI agent Ken Williams who led the investigation in Phoenix. Both Bayoumi and Saudi Arabia have denied any involvement in the attacks. Lawyers for the Saudi government filed a motion to dismiss the case, and oral arguments are scheduled in the near future. (With inputs from agencies)

9/11 attacks: Video showing Saudi man raises questions whether Riyadh provided assistance to hijackers

US on Sunday, marked the 21st anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks. President Joe Biden recalled the victims' sacrifice and honoured nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the terror strikes at the Pentagon, which was also targeted on September 11' 2001.

'We will never forget': US President Joe Biden honours 9/11 victims at Pentagon

The 21st anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks brought back the memories from that fateful day. After so many years, the accused still remain in the detention centre and victims' families demand justice.

21 years on, 9/11 attack victims' families still await justice

<p>American comedian and actor Pete Davidson's younger sister Casey honoured their late father Scott with an emotional tribute on Sunday to mark 21 years since the September 11 attacks in New York, US.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Scott Davidson, a New York fireman out of Brooklyn Heights, was killed at the age of 33 on 9/11 while responding to the call when the second plane hit the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center.<br />
<br />
Pete Davidson was seven years old when his father, along with five other firefighters, sprinted across the Brooklyn Bridge and in the direction of the Twin Towers to assist those in need. He died in that effort as a hero. Casey was three years old at that time.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"This year more then ever I wish you could be here," she captioned the post. "We miss you, we celebrate you and we remember you every day. Proud to be your caseygirl."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiX3JyErX9a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiX3JyErX9a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiX3JyErX9a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiX3JyErX9a/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Casey Davidson (@caseydavidson)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation wrote that Scott's "acts of heroism are not surprising" as it was his "lifelong dream" to be a firefighter and he often called the role the "greatest job in America."<br />
<br />
"On September 11, 2001, Scott was on duty and responded to the call after a second hijacked airliner struck the World Trade Center," the organization added. "He was a brave and fearless man and a devout patriot. He was a friend to many, and will be sorely missed by us all."<br />
<br />
Pete has paid tribute to his father over the years, but never more so than in the 2020 release of 'The King of Staten Island,' the semi-autobiographical movie he wrote and starred in."It`s pretty transparent as I could be," he told E! News. "We really wanted to follow this family and tragedy and how it affected them. And we wanted to show how you could overcome tragedy through life experiences."<br />
<br />
The coming-of-age storyline featured a young adult struggling with the effects of losing his family`s patriarch when he was seven years old, as well as the challenges he had to face head-on to go forward with his own life.<br />
<br />
"I think when you`re able to share a story like this at this magnitude and with so many people, it really allowed me to be as open and honest as I could be, and it helped me deal with a lot of my personal demons," he added.<br />
<br />
"This was something, one of the goals for this film was to allow me to put my past behind me and I think we were able to do that."</p>

<p>Pete, who joined the SNL cast in 2016 at the age of 20 and became the show's youngest comedian, recently said goodbye in an open letter posted on his pal Dave Sirus' Instagram page.&nbsp;</p>


American comedian and actor Pete Davidson's younger sister Casey honoured their late father Scott with an emotional tribute on Sunday to mark 21 years since the September 11 attacks in New York, US.

American comedian and actor Pete Davidson's younger sister Casey honoured their late father Scott with an emotional tribute on Sunday to mark 21 years since the September 11 attacks in New York, US. Scott Davidson, a New York fireman out of Brooklyn Heights, was killed at the age of 33 on 9/11 while responding to the call when the second plane hit the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. Pete Davidson was seven years old when his father, along with five other firefighters, sprinted across the Brooklyn Bridge and in the direction of the Twin Towers to assist those in need. He died in that effort as a hero. Casey was three years old at that time. "This year more then ever I wish you could be here," she captioned the post. "We miss you, we celebrate you and we remember you every day. Proud to be your caseygirl." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Casey Davidson (@caseydavidson) × The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation wrote that Scott's "acts of heroism are not surprising" as it was his "lifelong dream" to be a firefighter and he often called the role the "greatest job in America." "On September 11, 2001, Scott was on duty and responded to the call after a second hijacked airliner struck the World Trade Center," the organization added. "He was a brave and fearless man and a devout patriot. He was a friend to many, and will be sorely missed by us all." Pete has paid tribute to his father over the years, but never more so than in the 2020 release of 'The King of Staten Island,' the semi-autobiographical movie he wrote and starred in."It`s pretty transparent as I could be," he told E! News. "We really wanted to follow this family and tragedy and how it affected them. And we wanted to show how you could overcome tragedy through life experiences." The coming-of-age storyline featured a young adult struggling with the effects of losing his family`s patriarch when he was seven years old, as well as the challenges he had to face head-on to go forward with his own life. "I think when you`re able to share a story like this at this magnitude and with so many people, it really allowed me to be as open and honest as I could be, and it helped me deal with a lot of my personal demons," he added. "This was something, one of the goals for this film was to allow me to put my past behind me and I think we were able to do that." Pete, who joined the SNL cast in 2016 at the age of 20 and became the show's youngest comedian, recently said goodbye in an open letter posted on his pal Dave Sirus' Instagram page.

Pete Davidson's sister Casey pays tribute to their father who died in 9/11 terror attack

<p>A Guantanamo Bay inmate alleges he was tortured by his American captors after the September 11 attacks and will file a complaint with the UN Friday over his unending 19-year detention, his lawyer said.</p>

<p>Abu&nbsp;Zubaydah's lawyer Helen Duffy said the complaint will be filed with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against the United States and six other countries, asking for intervention in his case.</p>

<p>The 50-year-old Saudi-born Palestinian, whose real name is Zayn&nbsp;al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, was detained in Pakistan in March 2002 on suspicions he was a senior member of Al-Qaeda who helped plan the 9/11 attacks.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10-years-after-death-al-qaeda-chief-osama-bin-laden-still-mobilises-jihadists-380730">10 years after death, al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden still mobilises jihadists</a></strong></p>

<p>According to his lawyer, he was handed over to the CIA, which moved him through a series of secret&nbsp;units in several countries where he was brutally interrogated.</p>

<p>He was the first of a series of detainees to go through waterboarding and other now-banned techniques as US intelligence sought to force information from him about others in the jihadist group.</p>

<p>In 2003 he was transferred to Guantanamo, where he has stayed ever since. US officials have since admitted he was never a member of Al-Qaeda or an important figure among Islamic extremists.</p>

<p>Moreover, one of his interrogators, an FBI agent, has said that he cooperated easily before he was tortured so that he had nothing to add once he was subjected to the CIA's extreme interrogation methods, which included 83 instances of waterboarding.</p>

<p>Like most others among the last 40 detainees in Guantanamo,&nbsp;Abu&nbsp;Zubaydah&nbsp;has never been charged and faces indefinite imprisonment.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shuts-secret-guantanamo-prison-unit-moves-prisoners-to-another-nearby-camp-375521">US shuts secret Guantanamo prison unit, moves prisoners to another nearby camp</a></strong></p>

<p>"His detention has no lawful basis in international law (and) offends all principles of due process," Duffy said in a statement.</p>

<p>The petition will ask the UN agency to find that the United States is obliged to release him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also demands that six other countries involved in his disappearance and rendition;&nbsp;Britain, Thailand, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Poland and Morocco, use their powers to secure his release and relocation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"After 19 years of arbitrary detention, the only appropriate legal remedy for&nbsp;Abu&nbsp;Zubaydah&nbsp;is release and rehabilitation," Duffy said.</p>

<p>She added that how the administration of US President Joe Biden responds to the complaint "will be a test of its newly stated commitment to international rule of law&nbsp;and human rights."</p>

<p>In a separate legal case, the US Supreme Court on Monday said it would review&nbsp;Abu&nbsp;Zubaydah's petition to subpoena two CIA consultants who oversaw post-9/11 torture operations.</p>

<p>That petition is related to an investigation in Poland into torture conducted by the CIA at a black site in that country, including on&nbsp;Abu&nbsp;Zubaydah.</p>


A Guantanamo Bay inmate alleges he was tortured by his American captors after the September 11 attacks and will file a complaint with the UN Friday over his unending 19-year detention, his lawyer said.

A Guantanamo Bay inmate alleges he was tortured by his American captors after the September 11 attacks and will file a complaint with the UN Friday over his unending 19-year detention, his lawyer said. Abu Zubaydah's lawyer Helen Duffy said the complaint will be filed with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against the United States and six other countries, asking for intervention in his case. The 50-year-old Saudi-born Palestinian, whose real name is Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, was detained in Pakistan in March 2002 on suspicions he was a senior member of Al-Qaeda who helped plan the 9/11 attacks. Also read | 10 years after death, al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden still mobilises jihadists According to his lawyer, he was handed over to the CIA, which moved him through a series of secret units in several countries where he was brutally interrogated. He was the first of a series of detainees to go through waterboarding and other now-banned techniques as US intelligence sought to force information from him about others in the jihadist group. In 2003 he was transferred to Guantanamo, where he has stayed ever since. US officials have since admitted he was never a member of Al-Qaeda or an important figure among Islamic extremists. Moreover, one of his interrogators, an FBI agent, has said that he cooperated easily before he was tortured so that he had nothing to add once he was subjected to the CIA's extreme interrogation methods, which included 83 instances of waterboarding. Like most others among the last 40 detainees in Guantanamo, Abu Zubaydah has never been charged and faces indefinite imprisonment. Also read | US shuts secret Guantanamo prison unit, moves prisoners to another nearby camp "His detention has no lawful basis in international law (and) offends all principles of due process," Duffy said in a statement. The petition will ask the UN agency to find that the United States is obliged to release him. It also demands that six other countries involved in his disappearance and rendition; Britain, Thailand, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Poland and Morocco, use their powers to secure his release and relocation. "After 19 years of arbitrary detention, the only appropriate legal remedy for Abu Zubaydah is release and rehabilitation," Duffy said. She added that how the administration of US President Joe Biden responds to the complaint "will be a test of its newly stated commitment to international rule of law and human rights." In a separate legal case, the US Supreme Court on Monday said it would review Abu Zubaydah's petition to subpoena two CIA consultants who oversaw post-9/11 torture operations. That petition is related to an investigation in Poland into torture conducted by the CIA at a black site in that country, including on Abu Zubaydah.

Guantanamo detainee Abu Zubaydah to file complaint with UN agency

<p>President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that what he describes as an unprecedented US military assault against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-says-taliban-talks-dead-us-military-to-ramp-up-afghanistan-operations-248707">Taliban in Afghanistan is to continue</a> just five days after he scrapped peace talks.</p>

<p>Speaking at a ceremony marking the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Trump said that over "the last four days" US forces have "hit our enemy harder than they have ever been hit before and that will continue."</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-peace-talks-between-us-and-taliban-cancelled-248700/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Trump said the assault was ordered after he cancelled secret peace talks with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-taliban-keep-open-door-to-talks-after-summit-scrapped-248511">Taliban over the weekend</a> in retaliation for a bomb attack that killed one US soldier last week.</p>

<p>After a solemn commemoration at Ground Zero in Manhattan, Trump spoke at a Pentagon event honouring the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks -- announcing an unprecedented escalation of the military assault on the Taliban.</p>

<p>The nature of the offensive was not immediately clear but Trump said it was ordered after he cancelled peace talks with the Taliban over the weekend in retaliation for a bomb attack that killed one US soldier last week.</p>

<p>He also warned the terrorists&nbsp;against ever carrying out an attack in the US again.</p>

<p>"If for any reason, they come back to our country, we will go wherever they are, and use power, the likes of which the United States has never used before," Trump said.</p>

<p>"I'm not even talking about nuclear power. They will never have seen anything like what will happen to them," he added.</p>


President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that what he describes as an unprecedented US military assault against the Taliban in Afghanistan is to continue just five days after he scrapped peace talks.

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that what he describes as an unprecedented US military assault against the Taliban in Afghanistan is to continue just five days after he scrapped peace talks. Speaking at a ceremony marking the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Trump said that over "the last four days" US forces have "hit our enemy harder than they have ever been hit before and that will continue." Watch Video: Trump said the assault was ordered after he cancelled secret peace talks with the Taliban over the weekend in retaliation for a bomb attack that killed one US soldier last week. After a solemn commemoration at Ground Zero in Manhattan, Trump spoke at a Pentagon event honouring the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks -- announcing an unprecedented escalation of the military assault on the Taliban. The nature of the offensive was not immediately clear but Trump said it was ordered after he cancelled peace talks with the Taliban over the weekend in retaliation for a bomb attack that killed one US soldier last week. He also warned the terrorists against ever carrying out an attack in the US again. "If for any reason, they come back to our country, we will go wherever they are, and use power, the likes of which the United States has never used before," Trump said. "I'm not even talking about nuclear power. They will never have seen anything like what will happen to them," he added.

In last four days, have hit enemy harder than ever before: Trump on 9/11 attack anniversary

9/11 attacks in US: Afghan civilians suffer as 'war on terror' drags on

<p>The US&nbsp;Congress on Friday released a long-classified section of the official report on the September&nbsp;11 attacks that discussed potential links between some of the hijackers and Saudi Arabia but said the links were not independently verified.</p>

<p>The 28 pages of the report on the 2002 investigation focus on potential Saudi links to the 2001 aircraft attacks on the United States, in which nearly 3000 people died.</p>

<p>They were issued by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee after years of wrangling in Washington between Congress and different administrations, Republicans and Democrats, and urging by families of those killed.</p>

<p>The release of the previously classified pages is unlikely to end the controversy over the role of Saudi Arabia, an important US&nbsp;partner in the Middle East. Many US&nbsp;officials who opposed their release had worried they would damage diplomatic relations.</p>

<p>Fifteen of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens.</p>

<p>&quot;According to various FBI documents and CIA memorandum, some of the September 11 hijackers, while in the United States, apparently had contacts with individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government,&quot; the report said, giving a catalogue of alleged links.</p>

<p>They included reported contacts between Saudis in California and a statement that a man who was reportedly a Saudi Interior Ministry official stayed at the same Virginia hotel as one hijacker in September 2001.</p>

<p>Another section said that Omar al-Bayoumi, said to be a Saudi intelligence officer, met with two hijackers at a public place after they arrived in San Diego. It said, citing FBI files, that his salary rose to $3700 a month from $465 two months after two of the hijackers arrived in California.</p>

<p>One page described how two of the hijackers asked flight attendants technical questions during a trip in 1999 from Phoenix to Washington to attend a party at the Saudi embassy. One tried twice to enter the cockpit. The plane made an emergency landing and the FBI investigated, but did not prosecute.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Controversy will continue</strong></p>

<p>The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its agreement to the release is not an indication that the intelligence community agrees with the pages&#39; accuracy or concurs with the information it contains.</p>

<p>The office also on Friday released a declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks, saying the Saudi government and many of its agencies had been infiltrated and exploited by individuals associated with or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden&#39;s militant network.</p>

<p>Several members of Congress said they were pleased the pages had finally been released. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said he hoped the release would quiet rumours.</p>

<p>&quot;The Intelligence Community and the 9/11 Commission, which followed the Joint Inquiry that produced these so-called 28 pages, investigated the questions they raised and was never able to find sufficient evidence to support them,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Legislation that would allow families of September&nbsp;11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia has been passed by the US&nbsp;Senate and is making its way through the House, despite President Barack Obama&#39;s threat to veto the measure.</p>

<p>A September&nbsp;11 families group made clear the pages&#39; release would not stop their push for the legislation. &quot;Congress has to stand up for the interests of the thousands of innocent Americans who lost loved ones on 9/11,&quot; the &quot;9/11 Families&quot; organisation said in a statement.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia&#39;s ambassador to the United States, Abdullah al-Saud, said the country welcomed the release.</p>

<p>&quot;We hope the release of these pages will clear up, once and for all, any lingering questions or suspicions about Saudi Arabia&#39;s actions, intentions, or long-term friendship with the United States,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters before the pages were released that they would show no evidence of Saudi complicity.</p>

<p>The Obama administration sent a declassified version of the 28 pages, with many lines and sentences blacked out to protect intelligence sources and methods, to Congress on Friday morning. The House intelligence panel released it a few hours later.</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


A declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks was also released

The US Congress on Friday released a long-classified section of the official report on the September 11 attacks that discussed potential links between some of the hijackers and Saudi Arabia but said the links were not independently verified. The 28 pages of the report on the 2002 investigation focus on potential Saudi links to the 2001 aircraft attacks on the United States, in which nearly 3000 people died. They were issued by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee after years of wrangling in Washington between Congress and different administrations, Republicans and Democrats, and urging by families of those killed. The release of the previously classified pages is unlikely to end the controversy over the role of Saudi Arabia, an important US partner in the Middle East. Many US officials who opposed their release had worried they would damage diplomatic relations. Fifteen of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens. "According to various FBI documents and CIA memorandum, some of the September 11 hijackers, while in the United States, apparently had contacts with individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government," the report said, giving a catalogue of alleged links. They included reported contacts between Saudis in California and a statement that a man who was reportedly a Saudi Interior Ministry official stayed at the same Virginia hotel as one hijacker in September 2001. Another section said that Omar al-Bayoumi, said to be a Saudi intelligence officer, met with two hijackers at a public place after they arrived in San Diego. It said, citing FBI files, that his salary rose to $3700 a month from $465 two months after two of the hijackers arrived in California. One page described how two of the hijackers asked flight attendants technical questions during a trip in 1999 from Phoenix to Washington to attend a party at the Saudi embassy. One tried twice to enter the cockpit. The plane made an emergency landing and the FBI investigated, but did not prosecute. Controversy will continue The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its agreement to the release is not an indication that the intelligence community agrees with the pages' accuracy or concurs with the information it contains. The office also on Friday released a declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks, saying the Saudi government and many of its agencies had been infiltrated and exploited by individuals associated with or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden's militant network. Several members of Congress said they were pleased the pages had finally been released. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said he hoped the release would quiet rumours. "The Intelligence Community and the 9/11 Commission, which followed the Joint Inquiry that produced these so-called 28 pages, investigated the questions they raised and was never able to find sufficient evidence to support them," he said. Legislation that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia has been passed by the US Senate and is making its way through the House, despite President Barack Obama's threat to veto the measure. A September 11 families group made clear the pages' release would not stop their push for the legislation. "Congress has to stand up for the interests of the thousands of innocent Americans who lost loved ones on 9/11," the "9/11 Families" organisation said in a statement. Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Abdullah al-Saud, said the country welcomed the release. "We hope the release of these pages will clear up, once and for all, any lingering questions or suspicions about Saudi Arabia's actions, intentions, or long-term friendship with the United States," he said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters before the pages were released that they would show no evidence of Saudi complicity. The Obama administration sent a declassified version of the 28 pages, with many lines and sentences blacked out to protect intelligence sources and methods, to Congress on Friday morning. The House intelligence panel released it a few hours later. (Reuters)

Pages of US 9/11 report detailing possible Saudi ties made public