Saudi Arabia asks NY judge to drop it from 9/11 lawsuit

New York - An attorney for Saudi Arabia says that nation had nothing to do with the September 11 2001 attacks and should be dismissed as a defendant in lawsuits brought by victims' families.

Attorney Michael Kellogg made the argument on Thursday during a hearing in New York.

Saudi Arabia was dismissed nine years ago from the litigation, but was restored as a defendant in 2013 by a federal appeals court in Manhattan.

Kellogg says there are no facts showing Saudi Arabia knew of the attacks in advance or knowingly aided terrorists.

The lawsuits were brought in 2002 and afterwards against countries, companies and organisations accused of aiding al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. They sought billions of dollars in damages.