9/11 ‘mastermind’ is accused of Aramco attack as 85 suspects face charges in Saudi court

The alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks is accused of also plotting to attack the Saudi state-owned oil giant Aramco, the kingdom’s attorney general said at the trial of Al Qaeda suspects in a Saudi court.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and alleged co-conspirator Ramzi Binalshibh had “planned an attack on Aramco” the prosecutor said, according to a source who attended the hearing this week.

Aramco is the world’s largest oil corporation and boasts the largest proven crude oil reserves.

A total of 85 suspects are on trial, and their arrest foiled plots to attack two air bases, a residential compound in the Eastern Province of the Gulf state and on Aramco, according to prosecutors.

The defendants face charges of links to Al Qaeda while taking part in attacks on public buildings and residential compounds and of smuggling and possession of weapons.

(Eman El-Shenawi, a writer at Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: [email protected].)