The Story Best of 2025: INVESTIGATION: The 9/11 suspect - part 2
Dec 31, 2025
Amardeep Bassey, an investigative journalist for The Sunday Times, shares compelling insights into the 2001 arrest of Omar al-Bayoumi, a key figure in the 9/11 saga. They discuss the mysterious connections between al-Bayoumi and the hijackers, including his role in aiding them in San Diego. The podcast reveals how critical evidence was mishandled and examines the controversies surrounding the FBI's limited action. Bassey also highlights the shocking refusal of the U.S. to extradite al-Bayoumi despite the mounting evidence against him.
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Chance Meeting In Los Angeles
- Omar al-Bayoumi introduced himself to Khalid al-Mihdar and Nawaf al-Hazmi at a Los Angeles cafe in February 2000.
- That casual meeting later tied him to two of the 9/11 hijackers and triggered international investigations.
FBI 'Tunnel' Controlled Evidence Flow
- British detectives arrested al-Bayoumi but the FBI effectively controlled the investigation through the tunnel process.
- That control meant UK officers relied on US decisions about what evidence they could see or act on.
Seven Days Of Interrogation
- Over several days UK detectives interviewed al-Bayoumi and probed his ties to the hijackers and his background.
- The questioning revealed he had acted as guarantor in San Diego and later remembered the hijackers' names under pressure.