Holly Ratchford, who managed an apartment complex in San Diego, California, is recounting her experiences with Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi resident who lived at the property starting in September 1999. Bayoumi introduced Ratchford to two men who would later be identified as hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks—specifically, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, who piloted American Airlines flight 77 into the Pentagon. Ratchford describes Bayoumi as personable and friendly, noting that he regularly attended her social gatherings and integrated himself into the community.
Bayoumi is now a central figure in a $1 trillion lawsuit filed against Saudi Arabia by families of 9/11 victims and survivors. The allegations contend that Bayoumi provided material support to the hijackers during their time in the United States. A federal judge examining the case determined a year ago that evidence supported “a reasonable inference” that Bayoumi and a Saudi diplomat were coordinating with the Saudi government when assisting the hijackers. This ruling allowed the families’ lawsuit to proceed. Saudi Arabia and Bayoumi have consistently denied all allegations.
Ratchford has provided sealed testimony to the New York court regarding observations she made of Bayoumi’s interactions with the hijackers and the support he offered them. Her account contradicts statements Bayoumi has made to law enforcement and the court. After the 9/11 attacks, Ratchford withdrew from public life, relocating to a remote area in the western United States and avoiding media engagement until agreeing to speak for BBC programming.
FBI documents and court filings later revealed that despite claiming to be a student when he rented at Parkwood Apartments, Bayoumi’s academic pursuits had effectively ceased by 1998. Instead, he was organizing religious activities in the local Muslim community and frequently filming these events. These activities prompted suspicion among community members. According to Richard Lambert, who led the San Diego FBI office’s post-9/11 investigation, there was widespread belief among the Muslim community that Bayoumi was working as an operative for Saudi intelligence. Records indicated he received approximately $90,000 annually during his residency.
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