Saudi involvement in Sept 11 attacks claimed

A congressional inquiry points to suspicion over a potential role played by Saudi Arabia in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed 3000 people, Newsweek reports.

The magazine said the congressional joint intelligence inquiry claims that the Federal Bureau of Investigation failed to follow through on important evidence relating to the al Qaeda network's presence in the United States.

The report contains new evidence suggesting that Omar al-Bayoumi may have been a Saudi Government agent, sources told Newsweek.

It documents extensive ties between al-Bayoumi and the hijackers, while claiming the FBI failed to keep tabs on al-Bayoumi, though it had learned he was a secret Saudi agent.