The FBI on Saturday, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, released a newly declassified document regarding its investigation into the terror attack that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in the United States. It is the first such document to be released since the attack in 2001 and deals with the alleged role of the Saudi Arabian government in the planning of the attacks,
The declassifying of the document, published following an executive order by US President Joe Biden directing their release, comes after families of the victims told Biden that he would not be welcome at memorial events for the victims unless he declassified documents from the investigation.
The 16-page document shows that there were contacts between the attackers and Saudi terrorists, but does not provide a direct link to the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia has said that it had not involvement in the attacks, and its embassy in Washington said the kingdom welcomes the release of the document. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Families of 9/11 victims have filed a lawsuit against the Saudi government seeking billions of dollars in damages for the attacks.