What happened on 9/11 ?

9/11 Attacks Explained

What happened on 9/11 ? 

On September 11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by the extremist group al-Qaeda against the United States. Here's a brief overview:

Early Morning Hijackings: On that morning, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes.

World Trade Center Attacks: At 8:46 AM, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. At 9:03 AM, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Both towers eventually collapsed within hours, at 9:59 AM and 10:28 AM respectively, causing massive devastation and loss of life.

Pentagon Attack: At 9:37 AM, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia.

Flight 93 and Passenger Resistance: United Airlines Flight 93 was also hijacked, but passengers on board fought the hijackers. The plane eventually crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 AM. It's believed that the U.S. Capitol or the White House were possible targets for this flight.

Immediate Consequences: In total, nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the 9/11 attacks, including 246 on the four planes, 2,606 in the World Trade Center and surrounding areas, and 125 at the Pentagon.

Global Response and War on Terror: The attacks led to significant global political and military responses, most notably the start of the War on Terror, which included the war in Afghanistan and the controversial Patriot Act. The U.S., supported by many other nations, initiated a global hunt for al-Qaeda operatives.

Homeland Security: Domestically, in the U.S., the attacks led to significant changes in U.S. policy and security measures, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Ground Zero: The site where the World Trade Center towers stood is now known as Ground Zero. Over time, it has been developed and now includes the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the new One World Trade Center.

The events of 9/11 had profound impacts on the world, affecting international relations, security policies, and public perception regarding terrorism and its global implications.