Pre-9/11 investigations found no documented CIA or FBI knowledge of 1993 bombers’ flight training or surveillance.

The Claim

Before September 11, 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation knew that individuals involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing were taking flying lessons, recruiting people, and conducting surveillance flights, and the agencies did nothing to stop them.

Verified by Lenz · Jul 15, 2026

The Short Version

The evidence does not support this specific allegation. Official investigations found that U.S. agencies had fragmented warnings about al-Qaeda, flight training, and future hijackers, but not documented knowledge that people involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing were carrying out those activities before 9/11. The claim merges distinct individuals and events into a single unsupported story.

Caveats

The claim conflates the 1993 World Trade Center bombers with later al-Qaeda operatives and 9/11 hijackers.
Broad intelligence failures before 9/11 were real, but that does not prove knowledge of these exact individuals' flight training, recruiting, or surveillance flights.
Low-quality sources promoting 'foreknowledge' narratives often overstate or misattribute official findings.

The Receipts

The 9/11 Commission Report, Chapter 7
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United StatesJul 22, 2004
Part 1. "We Have Some Planes": The Four Flights-a ...
National ArchivesSep 26, 2005
Special Report: A Review of the FBI's Handling of Intelligence Information Related to the September 11 Attacks
U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector GeneralDec 10, 2004
The 9/11 Commission Report, Chapter 3: Counterterrorism Evolves
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United StatesJul 24, 2004
Connecting The Dots | The Man Who Knew
PBS FRONTLINEJul 22, 2004
Report of the Joint Inquiry into the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001
U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence / U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceDec 10, 2003
The 9/11 Commission Report (Chapter 7 and staff statement)
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission)Jul 22, 2004
Staff Statement No. 1 to the 9/11 Commission
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United StatesJan 26, 2004
1st Trade Center Attack: 10 Years Ago
CBS NewsDec 9, 2001
World Trade Center Bombing, 1993
Encyclopedia.comFeb 8, 2002

+ 25 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

1993 World Trade Center BombingCentral Intelligence Agency Federal Bureau of Investigation September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Pre-9/11 investigations found no documented CIA or FBI knowledge of 1993 bombers’ flight training or surveillance.

The Short Version

Caveats

The Receipts

Filed Under

More Fact Checks

Before 9/11, the CIA tracked two future hijackers, without a specific plot identified.

Official investigations found al-Qaeda planned 9/11, with no U.S. government involvement.

The 9/11 Commission found no evidence of U.S. foreknowledge of the specific attacks.