Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Read the letter from 9/11 survivors urging Theresa May to release Saudi terrorism report

'The UK has a unique historic opportunity to stop this killing spree of Wahhabist-inspired terrorists'

Andrew Buncombe
New York
Thursday 20 July 2017 10:40 EDT
Comments
Almost 3,000 people were killed in the attacks
Almost 3,000 people were killed in the attacks (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In a letter to Prime Minster Theresa May, survivors of the 9/11 attacks have urged her to release a suppressed report on Saudi Arabia, saying “we are not safe from terrorism unless we can cut off its lifeblood”.

The report into the significance of the funding of foreign extremism in Britain was commissioned by David Cameron. But Ms May’s government said it was unable to publish the document “for national security reasons”.

Both Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and Green Party co-founder Caroline Lucas, have thrown their support behind the demands from the survivors and relatives of some of those who died in the 2001 attacks that killed almost 3,000 people. Saudi Arabia has always denied any formal role in the attacks, even though 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens.

May denies suppressing report into Saudi Arabia's funding of extremism to protect arms deals

The letter says, delivered by Fedex to 10 Downing St on Wednesday morning, adds: “The UK now has the unique historic opportunity to stop this killing spree of Wahhabist-inspired terrorists by releasing the UK’s Government report on terrorism financing in the UK which, according to media reports, places Saudi Arabia at its centre of culpability.”

Read the full letter below.

Sharon Premoli

Vermont

USA

The Honourable Prime Minister Theresa May

Office of the Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

United Kingdom

July 17, 2017

Dear Madam Prime Minister

With each terrorist attack in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, we, families and survivors of the September 11 attacks in the United States, painfully relive the horror others, just like us, experience. Their losses, at the hands of those whose ideology adheres to Saudi sponsored Wahhabism, will endure for the rest of their lives. We know that. We live it every day. It is with heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families that we watch this unfold over and over again in the UK, in Europe, in Yemen, and in the Middle East.

Over the past 15 years, our quest for justice has led us down the money trail in search of who financed the brutal murder of almost 3,000 loved ones, the injuries of 6,000, and the sicknesses and deaths of many thousands more from 9/11 exposure. Let us not forget the members of our militaries who have sacrificed so much. We are always led to the source – Saudi Arabia, who even our former U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has disclosed was and is at the centre of terrorism funding now spreading all over the world.

The unforgiving form of Islam propagated by Saudi Arabia, with its abysmal human rights record, is the mother of al-Qaeda and ISIS. Both have sprung from the deep well of extremism and intolerance disseminated throughout the Muslim world via Saudi financing, recruiting, and inspiring hateful violence. Almost 16 years after 9/11, the extreme, virulent, intolerant brand of Islam disseminated by the Saudis continues to be the heart and soul of terrorism, and money is its lifeblood.

We are not safe from terrorism unless we can cut off its lifeblood and show the British and American people that Saudi Arabia can no longer escape accountability for the violence it sows.

The UK now has the unique historic opportunity to stop this killing spree of Wahhabist-inspired terrorists by releasing the UK’s Government report on terrorism financing in the UK which, according to media reports, places Saudi Arabia at its centre of culpability. The longer Saudi Arabia’s complicity is hidden from sunlight, the longer terrorism will continue. They must be stopped; but who will stop them? We submit that you are uniquely situated to shine the cleansing light of public consciousness.

We respectfully urge you to release the report now, finished or unfinished. We ask you to consider all the victims of state-sponsored, Saudi-financed terrorism, their families and the survivors in the UK and all over the world. Additionally, our democratic freedoms continue to be compromised. How can the UK public have confidence in their safety if nothing changes?

How many more people must die before Government decides to use its power to protect its people? You have the power to alter the course of history, stem the growth of terrorism and ultimately, secure our safety. Please release the report and let truth and justice finally prevail.

We would be very grateful for your response in this most important and urgent matter.

Thank you

Sincerely

Sharon Premoli, Survivor, 80th Floor, North Tower

Brett Eagleson, Son of John Bruce Eagleson, 17th floor, South Tower

Gail Eagleson, Widow of John Bruce Eagleson, 17th floor, South Tower

Kathy Owens, Widow of Peter Owens, 104th Floor, North Tower

Tim Frolich, Survivor, South Tower collapse

Ellen Saracini, Widow of UA pilot Victor Saracini, UA Flight 175

Loreen and Matt Sellitto, parents of Mathew Sellitto, Jr. 104th floor, North Tower

Rosemary Dillard, Widow of passenger Eddie Dillard, AA Flight 77

Abraham Scott, Widower of Janice M. Scott, Pentagon

Sally Regenhard, Mother of Christian Regenhard, New York City Firefighter

CC: Sir Kim Darroch

British Ambassador to the United States of America

31 Massachusetts Avenue

Washington, DC 20008

CC:

Jeremy Corbyn, MP, Leader of the Opposition

Diane Abbott, MP, Shadow Home Secretary

Rt.Honorary Boris Johnson,MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Amber Rudd, MP, Home Secretary

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in