Families of 9/11 victims renew bid to sue Saudi Arabia

Lawyers for victims' families say fresh evidence could pave way for the much needed litigation

Families of people who became victims to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre (WTC) have vowed to continue their efforts to sue Saudi Arabia, saying they will continue their efforts until they meet their objective.

The hearing at a Manhattan federal courtroom marked the third time a group of families made an attempt to sue the country for damages incurred after the attack that killed around 3,000 people, Al Jazeera reported.

"I'll never be tired of doing this," Terry Strada, who lost her husband to the attack, told Al Jazeera. "We will fight until the end."

PHOTO COURTESY: AL JAZEERA

She expressed that her life had not been the same after she lost her husband, Tom, the father of her three children.

"I don't have anything else. I'm going to take this as far as I can."

Strada maintained she would keep striving to expose what she deems as clear financial links between the attack and the royal family.

According to reports, 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudi citizens.

The relatives and survivors of the victims and insurance companies claim the members of Saudi government provided support to the al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked the planes and crashed into the twin towers.

They also accuse the country of providing funds to the charities that supported the terrorist organisation.

Lawyers of the plaintiffs claim that new evidence has surfaced, including documents that were previously classified and a trestimony from two former FBI agents as well as former senator Bob Graham who had served on the 9/11 Commission.

On the other hand, counsels for Saudi Arabia contend that the accusations were baseless, saying the new evidence was "hearsay and speculation, insufficient to support the findings required for jurisdiction over Saudi Arabia".