A 25-year-old video has been unearthed showing a man, who has been identified by the FBI as a Saudi intelligence officer, filming locations in Washington DC before the September 11 attacks.

First seized by Scotland Yard, the previously unseen footage was shot by Omar al-Bayoumi, an early suspect in the terror attacks, in the summer of 1999.

The evidence was revealed as part of a civil court case in the US brought by families of 9/11 victims who are trying to sue Saudi Arabia’s government for complicity in the attacks.

Mr Bayoumi’s running commentary is heard as he films at various locations across the US capital, including entry points and security arrangements on Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument.

Brands US politicians ‘demons’

At one point, he brands US politicians “demons” and later he refers to “the plan” in what is being alleged to be his attempt to scope out the area two years before the al-Qaeda terror attacks.

The Capitol is believed to have been the target of the plane that crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside after the hijackers were overwhelmed by passengers.

The hour-long film was uncovered by Scotland Yard detectives when they arrested Mr Bayoumi, a PhD student, at his home in Birmingham 10 days after 9/11. He was questioned for seven days and then released without charge.

The US later identified him as a Saudi intelligence agent, which he denies. He also denies allegations he was involved in preparations for 9/11, insisting he visited Washington as a tourist.

However, he has been the subject of sustained speculation owing to his links to two of the 9/11 hijackers.

He admitted in the past to innocently befriending Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, who went on to fly a passenger plane into the Pentagon, killing 189 people.

‘Advanced knowledge’ of attacks

An FBI report declassified in 2022 said there was a “50/50 chance” that Mr Bayoumi “had advanced knowledge the 9/11 attacks were to occur”.

The agency claims that when Mr Bayoumi was shooting the video, he was accompanied by two Saudi Arabian diplomats who the bureau said had ties to al-Qaeda.

In the grainy video, shot over several days and accompanied by Mr Bayoumi’s commentary in Arabic, he repeatedly makes references to instructions he had been given and reports he would later send.

In front of the Capitol building, the seat of the US Congress, he says: “They say that our kids are demons. However, these are the demons of the White House. They are going upwards.”

On Capitol Hill, the camera lingers on two black limousines that appear to belong to the government, and he says: “Their cars. You said that in the plan”, but does not specify further.

“I will provide you with the results soon,” Mr Bayoumi says close to the Washington Monument. “I will report to you in detail what is there.”

‘Airport not far from here’

At one point, he watches a low-flying plane and remarks: “Airport not far from here. Plane taking off.”

The legal team for the families of September 11 victims asked the Met Police three years ago to search its archive for anything related to Mr Bayoumi.

Gavin Simpson, for the plaintiffs, played the tape in court and told the judge: “A trove of evidence seized by the Metropolitan Police…. enables your honour, the public and the 9/11 families to perceive for themselves the mechanism by which Saudi Arabia provided support to the 9/11 hijackers.

“Bayoumi’s videotape bore all the characteristics, the hallmarks of al-Qaeda casing a terrorist target.”

Saudi authorities have long denied complicity in or support for the September 11 attacks. They have always denied Mr Bayoumi was an agent of theirs.