US judge: Saudi royals must answer questions in 9/11 lawsuit

Two members of Saudi Arabia's royal family will have to answer questions about Sept. 11 attacks in what lawyers for victims call a turning point in a long-running lawsuit, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in a written ruling unsealed late Thursday ordered Saudi Arabia to make royals — and or Saudi witnesses, including current and former government official — available for depositions.

It was unclear how and when witnesses will be deposed, but decision means “we can start uncovering what y kw,” plaintiff's attorney Jim Kreindler said Friday.

members of royal family include Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who is a former intelligence chief in Saudi Arabia and was kingdom’s U.S. ambassador from 1983 to 2005, court papers said.

Some relatives of Sept. 11 victims claim that nts of Saudi Arabia kwingly supported al-Qaida and its leader at time, Osama bin Laden, before hijackers crashed planes into New York’s World Trade Center, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. nearly 3,000 deaths were commemorated Friday on 19th anniversary of attacks. families are seeking billions of dollars in dams.

Michael Kellogg, an attorney for Saudi Arabia, declined to comment on Friday.

Saudi government has long denied involvement in attacks.

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