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 ...
Read More
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 .
Read Less
