Families’ suit against Saudi Arabia

a federal judge in New York decided Thursday that Saudi Arabia can face a civil lawsuit alleging the kingdom sponsored, aided and supported the al-Qaeda hijackers.

Attorneys representing Saudi Arabia had tried to dismiss claims by victims' families and estates, first filed in 2003, arguing that, as a sovereign state, it is immune from civil litigation in American courts.

Daniels said the families provided "reasonable evidence" that two Saudi citizens -- Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy -- were sent by their government to the United States to assist the hijackers.

"Although KSA attempts to offer seemingly innocent explanations or context, they are either self-contradictory or not strong enough to overcome the inference that KSA had employed Bayoumi and Thumairy to assist the hijackers."

Plaintiffs contended he was co-opted by Saudi intelligence, which Bayoumi denied.

One of his bank accounts received significant funds from a senior member of the Saudi cabinet, the judge wrote in his decision.

Thumairy said the money was for mosque expenses.

The Saudis have denied those allegations.

On a notepad seized from Bayoumi, authorities said they saw a handwritten sketch of an airplane along with some numbers, calculations and notes.

they were brought to the mosque and introduced to Thumairy, who left the U.S. five weeks prior to the attacks.

The Saudis have repeatedly denied having any role in facilitating the 9/11 attacks and said in court Wednesday that they remain "an ally of the United States (and) a sworn enemy of Al Qaeda."

Families of 9/11 victims expressed optimism Wednesday after a federal appeals court heard arguments in Saudi Arabia's effort to dismiss a long-running lawsuit

Attorneys involved in the case do not expect a ruling until early 2027.