Clinton, Bush received multiple warnings on bin Laden hijack plots before 9/11, declassified files show

Declassified documents show that both former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush received multiple warnings about Usama bin Laden’s terror network planning to hijack commercial jets and attack the United States. These warnings, from presidential daily briefs and CIA memorandums, indicated that operatives had even conducted trial runs and that bin Laden aimed to use hijacked flights to demand the release of extremists. The intelligence spanned two administrations, with specific alerts about bin Laden’s desire to retaliate against the U.S. and his network maintaining a support structure within the country.

• Declassified files reveal that both Clinton and Bush administrations were warned about Usama bin Laden’s terror network planning to hijack large commercial jets.
• Intelligence indicated that operatives had conducted trial runs at an unidentified New York airport.
• The plotters aimed to use hijacked flights to demand the release of imprisoned extremists.
• Warnings detailed bin Laden’s desire to retaliate against the U.S. and the presence of his network’s support structure within the United States.
• The documents were released by the Trump administration to shed light on pre-9/11 intelligence.