On This Day: Terrorists Attacked America

The September 11 attacks, commonly referred to as 9/11, were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda on the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, with two planes striking the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third hitting the Pentagon, and the fourth crash landing in a Pennsylvania field due to passenger intervention. The aftermath of these attacks led the U.S. to initiate a global war on terror aimed at dismantling terrorist organizations and their supporters.

At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, ringleader Mohamed Atta crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower, followed closely by United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower. Both towers collapsed within two hours, leading to significant loss of life and infrastructure damage. The Federal Aviation Administration responded with an unprecedented ground stop for all air traffic, halting departures and returning airborne planes. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people and prompted extensive changes in global anti-terrorism policies.

The U.S. response included the invasion of Afghanistan to remove the Taliban regime that harbored al-Qaeda. The long-term effects of the attacks were profound, with major impacts on U.S. security policy and international relations. Memorials, such as the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, have been established to honor the victims. The attacks remain the deadliest terrorist event in history, and the resultant conflicts have led to an estimated death toll exceeding 4.5 million.

For further information, visit the source: Wikipedia: September 11 attacks.