Reuters reports that the FBI has released a new classified document related to the investigation into the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. It also includes allegations of Saudi support for the hijackers.

On the 20th anniversary, the FBI released a 16-page partially redacted report. It detailed contacts between hijackers and various Saudi officials. However, it didn't conclude that the Riyadh government had been complicit in the attacks which claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

 WTC 9/11 via Slagheap has been licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Biden instructed the Department of Justice to examine documents from the FBI investigation into the attacks on declassification.

Family members of victims have been pressing for more information over what the FBI found during their investigation. They claim that documents will show Saudi Arabian authorities supported this plot for years.

 WTC 9/11 via Slagheap has been licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

For years, the Kingdom has maintained that it was not involved with the attacks. Late Saturday, the Saudi Embassy in Washington received an out-of-hours request for comment.

 WTC 9/11 via Slagheap has been licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

A 2004 US government commission found that there was no evidence that Saudi Arabia had directly funded al Qaeda. The Taliban gave safe haven to the group in Afghanistan at the time. It was not clear if individual Saudi officials had done this.

Families of more than 2,500 victims, along with over 20,000 injured, filed billion-dollar lawsuits against Saudi Arabia.

 

 WTC 9/11 via Slagheap has been licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

On September 8, the embassy released a statement stating that Saudi Arabia supports transparency regarding September 11, 2001, and that it welcomes the publication of classified documents about the attack by the United States.

According to the statement, the embassy stated that "as past investigations have shown, including the 9/11 Commission, and the release the so-called "28 Pages", no evidence has ever been found to suggest that the Saudi government, its officials, had prior knowledge of the terrorist attack, or were in any manner involved."

 

 Bill Biggart's camera (only journalist to be killed on 9/11) via Richard Scoble has been licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Terry Strada, the widow of Tom Strada who was killed on September 11, stated in a statement for 9/11 Families United that Saturday's FBI document dispelled any doubts regarding Saudi complicity in the attacks.

The statement stated that "Now the Saudis secrets are exposed" and that it was time for the Kingdom's officials to admit to their roles in the murder of thousands on American soil.

 

 NYC 9/11 Memorial via "Pom" is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Biden took a more aggressive stance towards Saudi Arabia than Donald Trump. He criticized the Kingdom's human rights record and released a US intelligence report which implicated Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as the Kingdom's de facto ruler in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist. The prince denied any wrongdoing.

According to the Washington Post, memorials and commemorations were held in the United States on Saturday to remember those who lost their lives and the first responders.

 

 Fireball on South Tower by Robert J. Fisch is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Ground Zero, New York's Ground Zero ceremony began at 8:46 AM with the first silence. This was the moment Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of The World Trade Center. In commemoration for the North Tower's falling, the last moment of silence took place at 10:28 a.m. Around 1 p.m., the annual tradition of reading names of victims came to an end.

After paying respects to the victims of 9/11, President Biden visited Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department (Pennsylvania).

 

 Shanksville, PA via Jon Dawson has CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Harris, Vice President of Shanksville stated that Flight 93's passengers responded in unison to the most difficult of circumstances in Shanksville.

Former President George W. Bush warned that domestic terrorists could be as dangerous as international terrorism. He stated that 9/11 victims must always be honored.

 

 The President Bush tour of the Squires Peak fire. August 2002, Bureau of Land Management. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Christopher M. Mozzillo's young niece, who was a New York firefighter, died in the line of duty during the terrorist attacks, stated that she still misses her uncle. She said, "Even though we never met in person, I still miss your presence a lot."