Many questions have again been raised after new videos surfaced regarding Omar al-Bayoumi, an old suspect in the case related to Osama bin Laden’s 9/11 attacks. According to the BBC report, these videos show Bayoumi’s relations with Saudi officials and his closeness to Anwar al-Awlaki. Al-Awlaki later became the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
These new videos have come to light in the context of a nearly $1 trillion lawsuit filed by the families whose relatives were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In this lawsuit, Saudi Arabia has been accused of having an alleged role in the attacks. Bayoumi has also been accused of helping two kidnappers.
What was shown in the video?
The videos obtained by the BBC reached the FBI within days of the 2001 attacks. However, according to the report, these videos were not thoroughly examined during Bayoumi’s investigation. A video is said to be from 1997 or early 1998. In this, Bayoumi and Anwar al-Awlaki are seen playing paintball near San Diego.
In the video, many people are seen fighting and shooting in a military exercise-like style. Some of these people are wearing clothes like military uniform. At one point, some people are heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” while moving forward in an attacking manner. During this time a Saudi Sheikh was also present there.
Was there any investigation into paintball activities?
According to the BBC, paintball activities were also included in the FBI’s investigation after the 9/11 attacks. Agents were told that some people were using these activities for training for jihad. According to the report, Bayoumi and Awlaki were involved in such paintball activities for at least three years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
What about the other footage?
Another video shows Bayoumi and Awlaki embracing each other in January 1998. In the second footage that has surfaced, Bayoumi is seen meeting officials and religious preachers associated with Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Affairs Ministry.
Bayoumi arrived in San Diego from Saudi Arabia in 1994. He had claimed that he had come to study English language. However, according to the BBC, court documents show that within a few years he had almost abandoned his studies.
Bayoumi came under FBI target after 9/11.
Bayoumi was among the FBI’s initial suspects after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His name was found in the rental agreement for an apartment that was signed by Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, two accused hijackers of the 9/11 attacks.
On 21 September 2001, Bayoumi was arrested by British police in Birmingham. Thousands of documents, hundreds of photographs and at least 80 video tapes were recovered from him. A notebook page was also included in this evidence. A sketch of an aircraft and mathematical calculations related to flight were written on it.
How was Bayumi released?
Despite so much evidence emerging, Bayoumi was released on 28 September 2001. US officials decided at that time that there was not enough evidence to extradite him to the US. After this the FBI examined some of the recovered material. But important evidence did not reach San Diego investigators.
Rick Lambert, who led the FBI investigation in San Diego, told the BBC that his office had requested this evidence several times. nAccording to Lambert, he was replied that the case was within his jurisdiction and would be sent to him after the analysis of evidence was completed. He said that if they had found that material and were able to examine it, it was possible that they would have been able to connect the different links of the case quite quickly.
Bayoumi was never prosecuted?
Omar al-Bayoumi was never prosecuted. At the same time, a lawsuit filed by the families of 9/11 victims has alleged that Saudi Arabia was involved in the attacks and that Bayoumi had helped the two hijackers.
What happened on September 11, 2001?
On September 11, 2001, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes in America. Two of these planes were hit by the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth plane was United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought off the hijackers. A total of 2,977 people died in these attacks. The 9/11 attacks are considered the deadliest terrorist attack in American history.