Story perspectives

Saudi Arabia to face 9/11 families’ appeals in New York

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 12:01 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Families Sue Saudi

Saudi Arabia will appear before an appeals panel on Oct. 7 in New York.
Families of 3,000 allege Saudi officials helped hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar after their Jan. 15, 2000 arrival.
Plaintiffs, represented by Motley Rice and Kreindler & Kreindler, seek a trial to uncover Saudi support and al-Qaeda cells.
9/11 families urged Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump to declassify phone records and hold Saudi Arabia accountable.

Summary

Judge Schedules Trial

U.S. Air Force judge scheduled the military tribunal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants on June 5, 2028.
A July 2024 plea deal would have let Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi plead guilty, avoiding death.
On Aug. 28, a military judge ruled Mohammed’s 2007 FBI confession was involuntary and inadmissible.
More than 5,000 emergency responders have died from cancers and illnesses linked to 9/11 recovery work.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which occurred on February 26 1993, demonstrated al-Qaeda’s capacity to strike U.S. soil in New York City. The attack injured 1,000 victims and killed six, prompting the FBI to create the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which grew to 1,000 agents by 1998. Today, 9/11 families sue Saudi Arabia through lawyers Motley Rice and Kreindler, while the Air Force-run military tribunal pursues al-Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. These parallel legal battles echo the 1993 bombing’s legacy, showing how early counterterrorism structures now enable victims to demand accountability and shape future policy.

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Families Sue Saudi

Saudi Arabia will appear before an appeals panel on Oct. 7 in New York.
Families of 3,000 allege Saudi officials helped hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar after their Jan. 15, 2000 arrival.
Plaintiffs, represented by Motley Rice and Kreindler & Kreindler, seek a trial to uncover Saudi support and al-Qaeda cells.
9/11 families urged Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump to declassify phone records and hold Saudi Arabia accountable.

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