The September 11 attacks, commonly referred to as
9/11, were a series of
coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamist extremist group
al-Qaeda on the United States on the
morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Here are the key facts:
Overview of the Attacks- Four commercial airplanes were hijacked by 19 terrorists.
- Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse.
- American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m.
- United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.
- A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, at 9:37 a.m.
- A fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was headed toward Washington, D.C., but passengers fought back. It crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m.
Casualties and Damage- Nearly 3,000 people were killed from over 90 nations, including first responders.
- The World Trade Center complex was completely destroyed.
- Significant damage occurred to the Pentagon.
- It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in world history and the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in U.S. history.
Perpetrators and Planning- The attacks were planned by al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden.
- The hijackers were mostly from Saudi Arabia, with others from Egypt, UAE, and Lebanon.
- The plan was years in the making, involving pilot training in the U.S. and extensive logistical support.
Immediate Aftermath- The U.S. launched the War on Terror, starting with the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust the Taliban and target al-Qaeda.
- The Department of Homeland Security was created.
- Airport security was overhauled (e.g., the creation of the TSA).
- Surveillance laws were expanded (e.g., the USA PATRIOT Act).
Long-term Impact- The global political landscape changed, with two major U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- 9/11 deeply affected American culture, foreign policy, and security policies.
- Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan in 2011.
