September 11 attacks
On the morning of September 11, 2001, the most devastating terrorist attack in the history of the world occurred concurrently in New York City, Washington, D.C. and near Pittsburgh. Four passenger jets were hijacked and then deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both towers of the World Trade Center subsequently collapsed, and part of the Pentagon was destroyed in the ensuing fire. Casualties are expected to be in the thousands: 265 on the planes; about 3000 people, including hundreds of firefighters who had rushed in, at the World Trade Center; and 125 at the Pentagon. The fourth hijacked plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers and crew tried to take over the plane.
Some passengers on the doomed flights were able to make phone calls reporting on events on board. They reported that there was more than one hijacker on each plane and that they took control of the planes using box-cutter knives.
The attack had immediate and deep global political effects and economic effects and inspired an international outpouring of memorials and services. The massive undertaking of rescue and recovery, and of providing assistance to the survivors and victims, is ongoing. There will be a great need for donations for a long time.
Though no group has claimed responsibility, the U.S. government immediately launched a full-scale response, stating its intentions to go to war against those responsible. In late September, British Prime Minister Tony Blair released evidence compiled by Western intelligence agencies seemingly connecting Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi terrorist with close ties with the Afghani Taliban leadership. On October 7, a coalition led by the United States launched an attack in Afghanistan. See 2001 U.S. Attack on Afghanistan. After the U.S. attack removed the Taliban from power, a videotape was discovered abandoned in Kabul, the Afghan capital, which showed Bin Laden discussing the attacks in a context which makes clear he was involved.
Following the attack, the United States has been on heightened alert for new terrorist attacks. In late September, cases of anthrax started breaking out; no direct connection to the September 11 attack has been found, though reports emerged in March 2002 that one of the hijackers was infected with cutaneous anthrax. See 2001 anthrax attack
The fires at the World Trade Center site continued to burn for three months while rescue workers continued to remove and sift through debris. Five months after the attack the last survivors were released from the hospital. By six months after the 1.5 million tons of debris had been removed from the WTC site and work continued below ground level despite concerns that the seawall around the site might collapse.
A minute-by-minute breakdown of events, and a history of events leading up to the attack. Where to add or read the latest breaking news.
Victims and survivors, and their personal stories. All together, these pages may serve as a memorial to those lost. Your help is welcome and needed.
How people across the world have helped, and how they can continue to do so. What is being done to assist victims.
How people have responded.
The long-term history of the attack.
Specific topics.
See also: World Trade Center -- Pentagon -- New York City -- Washington, D.C. -- AA Flight 11 -- UA Flight 75 -- AA Flight 77 -- UA Flight 93 -- U.S. Department of Defense -- FBI -- terrorism -- domestic terrorism -- terrorist incidents -- Osama bin Laden -- Taliban -- Islamism -- Afghanistan -- collective trauma -- September 11