September 11, 2001 attacks 5058690 226135108 2008-07-16T23:46:04Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + link/fix date fields in cite templates (explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_citation_templates|here]]) using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{pp-semi|small=yes}} <!--Vandalism to this page will be promptly removed. Consider helping instead of damaging other people's hard work.--> {{dablink|"9/11" redirects here. For the date, see [[September 11]]. For other uses, see [[911 (disambiguation)]].}} {{Infobox terrorist attack |title=September 11, 2001 attacks |image_size = 250px |image=National_Park_Service_9-11_Statue_of_Liberty_and_WTC_fire.jpg |caption=Twin towers of the [[World Trade Center]] burning. [[United Airlines Flight 175]] impacted the [[List of tenants in Two World Trade Center|South Tower]] (right) after [[American Airlines Flight 11]] struck the [[List of tenants in One World Trade Center|North Tower]] (left). | location=[[New York City]], [[United States|U.S.]] (1st & 2nd)<br /> [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington Co, VA]], U.S. (3rd)<br /> Near [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.(4th) |target=[[World Trade Center]] and [[The Pentagon]] (fourth target is unknown, but suspected to be a location in [[Washington, D.C.]]; al-Qaeda claims it was to be the [[United States Capitol]])<ref name="watson"/> |date=Tuesday, [[September 11]], [[2001]] |time-begin=8:46&nbsp;am |time-end=10:28&nbsp;am |timezone=[[UTC]]-4 |type= [[Aircraft hijacking]], [[Mass murder]], [[Murder-suicide]], [[Suicide attack]] |fatalities=2,998 (excluding the 19 hijackers) |injuries=6,291+ |perps=[[al-Qaeda]] led by [[Osama bin Laden]], see also [[Responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks|Responsibility]] and [[Organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks|Organizers]] on the right hand column }} The '''September 11, 2001 attacks''' (often referred to as '''9/11''') were a series of coordinated [[suicide attack]]s by [[al-Qaeda]] upon the [[United States]]. On that morning, terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda [[aircraft hijacking|hijacked]] four commercial passenger [[jet airliner]]s.<ref name="SecCounc">{{cite web|title=Security Council Condemns, 'In Strongest Terms' Terrorist Attacks on the United States|publisher=United Nations|date=[[September 12]], [[2001]]|url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SC7143.doc.htm|accessdate=2006-09-11|quote=The Security Council today, following what it called yesterday’s "horrifying terrorist attacks" in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, unequivocally condemned those acts, and expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and to the people and Government of the United States.}}</ref><ref name="CBC">{{cite news | title = Bin Laden claims responsibility for 9/11 | publisher = CBC News | date= 2004-10-29 | url = http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/10/29/binladen_message041029.html | accessdate = 2006-09-07}}</ref> The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]], resulting in the collapse of both buildings soon afterward and extensive damage to nearby buildings. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into [[the Pentagon]]. The fourth plane crashed into a field near [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania|Shanksville]] in rural [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] after passengers and members of the [[Aircrew member|flight crew]] on the fourth aircraft attempted to retake control of their plane. Excluding the 19 hijackers, [[#Casualties|2,974 people]] died as an immediate result of the attacks with another 24 missing and presumed dead. The overwhelming majority of casualties were [[civilian]]s, including nationals from over 90 different countries. In addition, the death of at least one person from [[lung disease]] was ruled by a medical examiner to be a result of exposure to dust from the World Trade Center's collapse, as rescue and recovery workers were exposed to airborne contaminants following the World Trade Center's collapse. The attacks had major ramifications around the world, with the United States declaring a [[War on Terrorism]] in response and launching an invasion of [[Afghanistan]] to depose the [[Taliban]], who had been accused of willfully harboring terrorists. The United States passed the [[USA PATRIOT Act]], as many nations around the world strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers. Stock exchanges were closed for almost a week, and posted enormous losses immediately upon reopening, with airline and insurance industries suffering the greatest financial losses. The economy of [[Lower Manhattan]] ground to a halt, as billions of dollars in office space was damaged or destroyed. The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and a [[Pentagon Memorial|small memorial]] built on the site. Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has been more contentious, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction. The selection of the [[Freedom Tower]] for the site has drawn extensive criticism, forcing the abandonment of some parts of the project. ==Attacks == {{main|September 11, 2001 timeline for the day of the attacks}} [[Image:Story.crash.sequence.jpg|thumb|left|Image sequence of United Flight 175 impacting Two World Trade Center. Source: [[CNN]]]] Early in the morning on [[September 11]], [[2001]], [[Organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks|nineteen terrorists]] hijacked four commercial airliners en route to [[California]] from [[Logan International Airport|Logan International]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Dulles International]], and [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]] airports.<ref name="SecCounc" /> The hijackers flew two of the airliners, [[American Airlines Flight 11]] and [[United Airlines Flight 175]], into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center.<ref>{{cite news |first=Terence |last=Neilan |title=2 Planes Crash Into World Trade Center |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/11/national/11WIRE-PLAN2.html?ex=1209009600&en=b9a731bb213d062c&ei=5070 |publisher=The New York Times |date=2001-09-11 |accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> Another group of hijackers flew [[American Airlines Flight 77]] into [[the Pentagon]], and a fourth flight, [[United Airlines Flight 93]], whose ultimate target was the [[U.S. Capitol building]], crashed near [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="Fox2">{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191420,00.html |date=2006-04-13 |publisher=Fox News |title=Flight 93 Hijacker: 'We Have a Bomb on Board' |accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref><ref name="Fox1">{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,34184,00.html |date=2001-09-11 |publisher=Fox News |title=Hijacked Planes Used in Coordinated Attacks Upon New York, Washington |accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> During the hijacking of the airplanes, some passengers and crew members were able to make phone calls using the cabin [[GTE]] [[airphone]] service and [[mobile phone]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20010916phonecallnat3p3.asp |title=The phone line from Flight 93 was still open when a GTE operator heard Todd Beamer say: 'Are you guys ready? Let's roll' |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date-2001-09-16 |author=McKinnon, Jim |accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/12/family.reacts/index.html |title=Relatives wait for news as rescuers dig |publisher=CNN |date=2001-09-13 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> They reported that several [[Organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks|hijackers]] were aboard each plane. The terrorists had reportedly taken control of the aircraft by using knives and [[Utility knife|box-cutter knives]] to kill [[flight attendant]]s and at least one pilot or passenger, including the captain of Flight 11, [[John Ogonowski]].<ref name="911-ch1">{{cite web |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch1.pdf |title=9/11 Commission Report |chapter=Chapter 1 |date=2004 |publisher=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |accessdate=2008-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref> The [[9/11 Commission]] established that two of the hijackers had recently purchased [[Leatherman]] multi-function [[hand tool]]s.<ref name=commission>{{cite web| title=National Commission Upon Terrorist Attacks in the United States| url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing7/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-01-27.htm| publisher=National Commission Upon Terrorist Attacks in the United States| accessdate=2008-01-24| date=2004-01-27}}</ref> Some form of noxious chemical spray, such as [[tear gas]] or [[pepper spray]], was reported to have been used on American 11 and United 175 to keep passengers out of the first-class cabin.<ref name="CNN1">{{cite web | last = Ahlers| first = Mike M. | title = 9/11 panel: Hijackers may have had utility knives | publisher= CBS News |date= [[January 27]], [[2004]]| url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/27/911.commis.knife/ | accessdate = 2006-09-07 }}</ref> A flight attendant on Flight 11, a passenger on Flight 175, and passengers on Flight 93 mentioned that the hijackers had bombs, but one of the passengers also mentioned he thought the bombs were fake. No traces of explosives were found at the crash sites. The [[9/11 Commission Report]] believed the bombs were probably fake.<ref name="911-ch1"/> On [[United Airlines Flight 93]], [[Flight data recorder|black box]] recordings revealed that crew and passengers attempted to seize control of the plane from the hijackers after learning through phone calls that similarly hijacked planes had been crashed into buildings that morning.<ref name="WP93">{{cite news |first=David |last=Snyder |title=Families Hear Flight 93's Final Moments |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A12262-2002Apr18 |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2002-04-19 |accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/law/0604/transcript.flight93/index.html|title=Black Box Recordings|publisher=CNN.com|date=2006-04-12|accessdate=2007-03-30}}</ref> According to the transcript of Flight 93's recorder, one of the hijackers gave the order to [[Tait-Bryan rotations|roll]] the plane once it became evident that they would lose control of the plane to the passengers.<ref name="Fox93Xscript">{{cite web |title=Text of Flight 93 Recording |publisher=Fox News |date=2006-04-12 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191520,00.html |accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> Soon afterward, the aircraft crashed into a field near Shanksville in [[Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania|Stonycreek Township]], [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]], at 10:03:11 a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|local time]] (14:03:11 UTC). Al-Qaeda leader [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]] mentioned in a 2002 interview with [[Yosri Fouda]], an [[al Jazeera]] journalist, that Flight 93's target was the [[United States Capitol]], which was given the [[code name]] "the Faculty of Law".<ref>{{cite book |author=Fouda, Yosri and Nick Fielding |title=Masterminds of Terror |publisher=Arcade Publishing |date=2004 |pages=pp. 158-159}}</ref> Three buildings in the World Trade Center Complex collapsed due to [[structural failure]] on the day of the attack.<ref name="WPCollapse">{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Miller |title=Report Assesses Trade Center's Collapse |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A11614-2002Apr30?language=printer |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2002-05-01 |accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> The south tower (2&nbsp;WTC) fell at approximately 9:59 a.m., after burning for 56 minutes in a fire caused by the impact of United Airlines Flight 175.<ref name="WPCollapse" /> The north tower (1&nbsp;WTC) collapsed at 10:28 a.m., after burning for approximately 102 minutes.<ref name="WPCollapse" /> When the north tower collapsed, debris heavily damaged the nearby [[7 World Trade Center]] (7&nbsp;WTC) building. Its structural integrity was further compromised by fires, and the building collapsed later in the day at 5:20 p.m.<ref name="NIST-june2004">{{cite web |year = 2004 |url = http://wtc.nist.gov/progress_report_june04/appendixl.pdf | format = pdf | title = Interim Report on WTC 7 | work = Appendix L | publisher = National Institute of Standards and Technology |accessdate = 2007-08-20}}</ref> The [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST) launched investigations into the cause of collapse for the three buildings, subsequently expanding the investigation to include questions over measures to prevent progressive collapse, such as fire resistance design and retrofitting of structural steel. The report into 1&nbsp;WTC and 2&nbsp;WTC was concluded in October 2005, and the investigation into 7&nbsp;WTC is ongoing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/reports_october05.htm |title=Final Reports of the Federal Building and Fire Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster |date=2006-06-08 |accessdate=2008-04-30 |work=[[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce]]}}</ref><ref name="NISTTheory">{{cite web |url=http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/wtc_062907.html |title=NIST Status Update on World Trade Center 7 Investigation |date=2007-06-29 |accessdate=2008-04-30 |work=[[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce]] |quote=An initial local failure occurred at the lower floors (below floor 13) of the building due to fire and/or debris induced structural damage of a critical column (the initiating event) which supported a large span floor bay with an area of about 2,000 square feet}}</ref> The current NIST hypothesis attributes the collapse to "fire and/or debris induced structural damage."<ref name="NISTTheory"/> The attacks created widespread confusion among news organizations and [[air traffic controller]]s across the United States. All international civilian air traffic was banned from landing on US soil for three days.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profiles of 9/11 - About 9/11 |url=http://www.biography.com/profiles-of-9-11/about911.jsp |work=[[The Biography Channel]] |publisher=[[A&E Television Networks]] |accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref> Aircraft already in flight were either turned back or redirected to airports in [[Canada]] or [[Mexico]]. News sources aired unconfirmed and often contradictory reports throughout the day. One of the most prevalent of these reported that a [[car bomb]] had been detonated at the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department's]] headquarters in Washington, D.C.<ref name=errors2>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark |title=Broadcasting and Cable |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA240241.html |date=2002-08-26 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |accessdate=2008-02-15}}</ref> Soon after reporting for the first time on the Pentagon crash, CNN and other media also briefly reported that a fire had broken out on the [[National Mall|Washington Mall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0109/11/bn.03.html |title=CNN.com - Transcripts |accessdate=2008-05-02 |date=2001-09-11 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Another report went out on the [[Associated Press|AP]] wire, claiming that a [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] [[Boeing 767|767]]&mdash;Flight 1989&mdash;had been hijacked. This report, too, turned out to be in error; the plane was briefly thought to represent a hijack risk, but it responded to controllers and landed safely in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].<ref name="wkyc">{{cite web | last = O'Mara| first = Michael | title = 9/11: 'Fifth Plane' terror alert at Cleveland Hopkins Airport | publisher= WKYC News |date=2006-09-11| url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=56706 | accessdate = 2007-02-13}}</ref> ===Casualties=== There were 2,974 fatalities, excluding the 19 hijackers: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at [[the Pentagon]].<ref name="Chrono">{{cite web |url= http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/11/chronology.attack/index.html | title = September 11: Chronology of terror| publisher = CNN | accessdate = 2006-09-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/16/pentagon.video/index.html|title=First video of Pentagon 9/11 attack released|date=[[May 16]], [[2006]]|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2006-09-10}}</ref> An additional 24 people remain listed as missing.<ref name="hirschkorn">{{cite news |url=http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/STATISTIC.asp|title=24 Remain Missing|date=2006, August 12 |publisher=September 11 Victims|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> All of the fatalities in the attacks were [[civilian]]s except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.<ref>{{cite news |author=Stone, Andrea |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/sept11/2002-08-20-pentagon_x.htm |title=Military's aid and comfort ease 9/11 survivors' burden |publisher=USA Today |date=2002-08-20 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center.<ref>{{cite web| last=Walker| first=Carolee| title=Five-Year 9/11 Remembrance Honors Victims from 90 Countries| url=http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/September/20060911141954bcreklaw0.9791071.html| publisher=[[United States Department of State]]| date=2006-09-11| accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> [[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]] estimated that approximately 17,400 civilians were in the [[World Trade Center]] complex at the time of the attacks, while turnstile counts from the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|Port Authority]] suggest that 14,154 people were typically in the Twin Towers by 8:45 a.m.<ref>{{cite book |author=Averill, Jason D., et al. |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/NISTNCSTAR1-7.pdf |chapter=Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications |title=Final Reports of the Federal Building and Fire Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |date=2005| accessdate=2008-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Dwyer, Jim and Kevin Flynn |title=102 Minutes |publisher=Times Books |date=2005 |pages=p. 266}}</ref> The vast majority of people below the impact zone safely evacuated the buildings, along with 18 individuals who were in the impact zone in the south tower.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E6DC153BF935A15756C0A9649C8B63 |title=Last Words at the Trade Center; Fighting to Live as the Towers Die |author=Dwyer, Jim, et al. |publisher=The New York Times |date=2002-05-26 |accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> 1,366 people died who were at or above the floors of impact in the North Tower.<ref name="NYTFatal">{{cite news |last=Lipton |first=Eric |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/22/nyregion/22towers.html?ei=5090&en=ccd27da4663af33f&ex=1248235200&partner=rssuserland&pagewanted=print&position= |title=Study Maps the Location of Deaths in the Twin Towers |date=2004-07-22 |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> According to the Commission Report, hundreds were killed instantly by the impact, while the rest were trapped and died after the tower collapsed.<ref name="911-ch9">{{cite web| title=Heroism and Honor| work=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States| publisher=U.S. Congress| date=2004-08-21| url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch9.htm| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> As many as 600 people were killed instantly or were trapped at or above the floors of impact in the South Tower.<ref name="NYTFatal" /> {| class="bordered infobox" width="280px" cellpadding="3" style="font-size:90%;" |- !colspan="3"| Fatalities (excluding hijackers) |- !rowspan="3"| New York City | [[World Trade Center]] | 2,603 died and another 24 remain listed as missing<ref name="hirschkorn"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/25/moussaoui.trial/ |title=2006 9/11 Death Toll |date=2006, April 26 |publisher=CNN|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- | [[American Airlines Flight 11|American 11]] | 88<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-location/page93.html |title=American Airlines Flight 11 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- | [[United Airlines Flight 175|United 175]] | 59<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-location/page100.html |title=United Airlines Flight 175 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"| Arlington | [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] | 125<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-location/page88.html |title=American Airlines Flight 77 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- | [[American Airlines Flight 77|American 77]] || 59<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-location/page96.html |title=American Airlines Flight 77 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- ! Shanksville | [[United Airlines Flight 93|United 93]] | 40<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20011028flt93mainstoryp7.asp |title=Flight 93: Forty lives, one destiny |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=2001, October 28 |author=Roddy, Dennis B.|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref> |- !colspan="2"| Total | 2,974 died and another 24 remain listed as missing. |} At least 200 people jumped to their deaths from the burning towers (as depicted in the photograph "[[The Falling Man]]"), landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below.<ref name="horrificdecision">{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/sept11/2002-09-02-jumper_x.htm |title=Desperation forced a horrific decision |publisher=USATODAY |date=[[September 2]], [[2002]] |author=Cauchon, Dennis and Martha Moore|accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref> Some of the occupants of each tower above its point of impact made their way upward toward the roof in hope of helicopter rescue, but the roof access doors were locked. No plan existed for helicopter rescues, and on September 11, the thick smoke and intense heat would have prevented helicopters from conducting rescues.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/18/terror/main618174.shtml |title=Poor Info Hindered 9/11 Rescue|publisher=CBS News |date=[[May 18]], [[2004]]|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref> A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they attempted to implement rescue and fire suppression efforts. The [[New York City Fire Department]] lost 341 firefighters and 2 FDNY [[Paramedic]]s.<ref>{{cite news |author=Denise Grady |coauthors=Andrew C. Revkin |title= THREATS AND RESPONSES: RESCUER'S HEALTH; Lung Ailments May Force 500 Firefighters Off Job |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E1DC1631F933A2575AC0A9649C8B63 |date=2002-09-10 |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref> The [[New York City Police Department]] lost 23 officers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Post-9/11 report recommends police, fire response changes |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-19-nypd-nyfd-report_x.htm |date=2002-08-19 |work=Associated Press |publisher=USA Today |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref> The [[Port Authority Police Department]] lost 37 officers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Police back on day-to-day beat after 9/11 nightmare |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/07/20/wtc.police/index.html |date=2002-07-21 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref> Private [[emergency medical services|EMS]] units lost 8 additional [[Emergency medical technician|EMT]]s and [[paramedics]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Joshi, Pradnya |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-nyport084416400sep08,0,6938921.story |title=Port Authority workers to be honored |publisher=Newsday |date=2005-09-08 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref name="National EMS Memorial">{{cite web | title="National EMS Memorial" | url=http://nemsms.org/notices01.htm | title=2001 Notices of Line of Duty Death | publisher = National EMS Memorial Service |accessdate=2007-09-11}}</ref> [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.]], an investment bank on the 101st&ndash;105th floors of One World Trade Center, lost 658 employees, considerably more than any other employer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5282060.stm?lsf |title=Cantor rebuilds after 9/11 losses |publisher=BBC |date=2006-09-04 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> [[Marsh & McLennan Companies|Marsh Inc.]], located immediately below Cantor Fitzgerald on floors 93&ndash;101 (the location of [[American Airlines Flight 11|Flight 11's]] impact), lost 295 employees, and 175 employees of [[Aon Corporation]] were killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/REG/70911011 |title=Industry honors fallen on 9/11 anniversary |publisher=InvestmentNews |author= Siegel, Aaron |date=2007-09-11 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> After New York, [[New Jersey]] was the hardest hit [[U.S. state|state]], with the city of [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]] sustaining the most fatalities.<ref name="beveridge">{{cite web |url=http://www.gothamgazette.com/demographics/91102.shtml |title=9/11/01-02: A Demographic Portrait Of The Victims In 10048 |publisher=Gotham Gazette |author=Beveridge, Andrew |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> Weeks after the attack, the estimated death toll was over 6,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/09/29/gen.america.under.attack/index.html |title=Source: Hijacking suspects linked to Afghanistan |publisher=CNN |date=2001-09-30 |accessdate=2008-06-08}}</ref> The city was only able to identify remains for approximately 1,600 of the victims at the World Trade Center. The medical examiner's office also collected "about 10,000 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the list of the dead."<ref name="CBS2">{{cite web| title=Ground Zero Forensic Work Ends| publisher=CBS News| date=2005-02-23| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/23/national/main675839.shtml| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> Bone fragments were still being found in 2006 as workers were preparing to demolish the damaged [[Deutsche Bank Building]]. ===Damage=== [[Image:Pentagon crach site.jpg|thumb|The Pentagon damaged by fire and partially collapsed.]] In addition to the 110-floor Twin Towers of the World Trade Center itself, numerous other buildings at the World Trade Center site were destroyed or badly damaged, including [[7 World Trade Center]], [[6 World Trade Center]], [[5 World Trade Center]], [[4 World Trade Center]], the [[Marriott World Trade Center]] and [[St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church]].<ref name="wtcstudy">{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/wtcstudy.shtm |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study |date=May 2002 |publisher=FEMA |accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> The [[Deutsche Bank Building]] across [[Liberty Street (Manhattan)|Liberty Street]] from the World Trade Center complex was later condemned due to the uninhabitable, toxic conditions inside the office tower, and is undergoing deconstruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_ch6.pdf |title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study - Bankers Trust Building |date=May 2002 |publisher=FEMA |accessdate=2007-07-12|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=The Deutsche Bank Building at 130 Liberty Street | publisher=Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center| url=http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/130Liberty/default.asp | accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> The [[Borough of Manhattan Community College]]'s Fiterman Hall at 30 West Broadway was also condemned due to extensive damage in the attacks, and is slated for [[deconstruction (building)|deconstruction]].<ref>{{cite web| title = Lower Manhattan - Fiterman Hall| publisher = LowerManhattan.info| date= 2007-7| url = http://www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/fiterman_hall_39764.aspx | accessdate = 2007-07-10 }}</ref> Other neighboring buildings including [[90 West Street, New York City|90 West Street]] and the [[Verizon Building]] suffered major damage, but have since been restored.<ref name="nyconstruction">{{cite web |url=http://newyork.construction.com/projects/TopProjects04/Verizon.asp |title=Verizon Building Restoration |publisher=New York Construction (McGraw Hill) |accessdate=2007-06-28}}</ref> [[World Financial Center]] buildings, [[One Liberty Plaza]], the [[Millenium<!-- PLEASE NOTE that "Millenium" is the correct spelling here. --> Hilton]], and [[10048 (ZIP code)|90 Church Street]] had moderate damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_ch7.pdf|title=World Trade Center Building Performance Study - Peripheral Buildings |date=May 2002 |publisher=FEMA |accessdate=2007-07-12|format=PDF}}</ref> Communications equipment atop the North Tower, including broadcast radio, television and [[two-way radio]] antenna towers were also destroyed, but media stations were quickly able to reroute signals and resume broadcasts.<ref name="wtcstudy"/><ref>{{cite web| last=Bloomfield| first=Larry| url=http://sysdesignshowcase.broadcastengineering.com/ar/broadcasting_new_york_broadcasters| title=New York broadcasters rebuild| publisher=Broadcast Engineering| date=2001-10-01| accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> In [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington County]], a portion of the Pentagon was severely damaged by fire and one section of the building collapsed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build03/PDF/b03017.pdf |title=The Pentagon Building Performance Report |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) |date=January 2003| accessdate=2008-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref> ===Rescue and recovery=== [[Image:DN-SD-04-12744.JPEG|thumb|An injured victim of the Pentagon attack is evacuated]] {{main|Rescue and recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 attacks}} The [[New York City Fire Department|Fire Department of New York City]] (FDNY) quickly deployed 200 units (half of the department) to the site, whose efforts were supplemented by numerous off-duty firefighters and [[Emergency medical technician|EMTs]].<ref name="mckinsey-ems">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/mck_report/ems_response.pdf |title=McKinsey Report - Emergency Medical Service response |publisher=FDNY / McKinsey & Company |date=[[August 9]], [[2002]] |accessdate=2007-07-12|format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="mckinsey-exec">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/mck_report/executive_summary.pdf |title=FDNY McKinsey Report - Executive Summary |date=August 2002 |publisher=FDNY / McKinsey & Company |accessdate=2007-07-10|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/mck_report/x7_fire_apparatus_deployment.pdf |title=Fire Apparatus Deployment on September 11 |publisher=FDNY / McKinsey & Company |date=August 2002 |accessdate=2007-07-10|format=PDF}}</ref> The [[New York City Police Department|New York Police Department]] (NYPD) sent [[Emergency Service Unit]]s (ESU) and other police personnel.<ref name="mckinsey-nypd">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/mck_report/toc.html |title=McKinsey Report - NYPD |date=[[August 19]], [[2002]] |accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref> During the emergency response, FDNY commanders, the NYPD, and the Port Authority police had limited ability to share information and coordinate their efforts.<ref name="mckinsey-ems"/> The NYPD, FDNY, and Port Authority police did redundant searches for civilians, rather than coordinate efforts among the agencies.<ref name="alavosius">{{cite journal |title=Unity Of Purpose/Unity Of Effort: Private-Sector Preparedness In Times Of Terror |journal=Disaster Prevention & Management |author=Alavosius, Mark P., et al. |date=2005 |volume=14(5) |pages=pp. 666-680}}</ref> As conditions deteriorated, the NYPD received information from its helicopters, and were able to pass along evacuation orders that allowed most of its officers to safely evacuate before the buildings collapsed.<ref name="mckinsey-nypd"/><ref name="alavosius"/> However, radio communications between the NYPD and FDNY were incompatible and the information did not get to FDNY commanders. After the first tower collapsed, FDNY commanders [[September 11, 2001 radio communications|experienced difficulties]] communicating evacuation orders to firefighters inside the towers due to malfunctioning [[radio repeater]] systems in the World Trade Center. [[9-1-1]] dispatchers also received information from callers that was not passed along.<ref name="mckinsey-exec"/> Within hours of the attack, a massive [[search and rescue]] operation was launched. Rescue and recovery efforts took months to complete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53997,00.html |title=Timeline of WTC Recovery |publisher=Fox News |date=2002-05-29 |accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> ==Attackers and their motivation== {{main|Responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks}} [[Image:Mohamed Atta.jpg|thumb|[[Mohamed Atta]], Tactical leader of the 9/11 attacks]] The attacks were consistent with the overall mission statement of [[al-Qaeda]], as set out in a 1998 [[fatwā]] issued by [[Osama bin Laden]], [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], [[Ahmed Refai Taha]], [[Mir Hamzah]], and Fazlur Rahman declaring that it was the "duty of every Muslim" to "kill Americans anywhere."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cryptome.org/zawahri-wsj.htm |title= Saga of Dr. Zawahri Sheds Light On the Roots of al Qaeda Terror |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2002-07-02 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing10/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-04-13.htm |title=Tenth Public Hearing, Testimony of Louis Freeh| publisher=9/11 Commission| date=2004-04-13| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders: World Islamic Front Statement|date=[[February 23]], [[1998]]| url = http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm| accessdate = 2006-09-08 }}</ref> ===Al-Qaeda=== The origins of [[al-Qaeda]] date back to 1979 when the [[Soviet Union]] [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan|invaded]] [[Afghanistan]]. Soon after the invasion, Osama bin Laden traveled to Afghanistan where he helped organize Arab [[mujahideen]] and established the [[Maktab al-Khidamat]] (MAK) organization to resist the Soviets. In 1989, as the Soviets withdrew, MAK was transformed into a "rapid reaction force" in [[jihad]] against governments across the Muslim world. Under the guidance of al-Zawahiri, Osama became more radical.<ref name="gunaratna-p23">{{cite book |author=Gunaratna, Ronan |title=Inside Al Qaeda |year=2002 |publisher=Berkley Books |pages=pp. 23-33}}</ref> In 1996, bin Laden issued his first fatwā which called for American soldiers to leave Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html |title=Bin Laden's Fatwa (1996) |publisher=PBS |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> In a second fatwā issued in 1998, bin Laden outlined his objections to American [[Foreign relations of the United States|foreign policy]] towards [[Israel]], as well as the continued presence of American troops in [[Saudi Arabia]] after the [[Gulf War]].<ref name="1998FatwaPBS">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1998.html |title=Al Qaeda's 1998 Fatwa |work=[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer]] |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service]] |accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> Bin Laden used [[Islamic]] texts to exhort violent action against American military and citizenry until the stated grievances are reversed, noting "[[ulema]] have throughout [[Muslim history|Islamic history]] unanimously agreed that the [[jihad]] is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the [[Islam by country|Muslim countries]]."<ref name="1998FatwaPBS" /> ===Planning of the attacks=== [[Image:September 17 2001 Ground Zero 04.jpg|thumb|upright|Damage to the adjacent [[World Financial Center]].]] {{main|Planning of the September 11, 2001 attacks}} The idea for the September 11 plot came from [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]], who first presented the idea to bin Laden in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3128802.stm |title=Suspect 'reveals 9/11 planning' |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-09-22 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> At that point, Bin Laden and al-Qaeda were in a period of transition, having just relocated back to [[Afghanistan]] from [[Sudan]].<ref name="911-ch5">{{cite book |author=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |title=9/11 Commission Report |chapter=Chapter 5 |publisher=Government Printing Office |date=2004 |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch5.htm |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The [[1998 United States embassy bombings|1998 African Embassy bombings]] marked a turning point, with bin Laden intent on attacking the United States.<ref name="911-ch5"/> In late 1998 or early 1999, bin Laden gave approval for Mohammed to go forward with organizing the plot.<ref name="911-ch5"/> A series of meetings occurred in spring of 1999, involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Osama bin Laden, and his deputy [[Mohammed Atef]].<ref name="911-ch5"/> Bin Laden provided leadership for the plot, along with financial support.<ref name="911-ch5"/> Bin Laden was also involved in selecting people to participate in the plot, including choosing Mohamed Atta as the lead hijacker.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bergen, Peter |title=The Osama bin Laden I Know |publisher=Free Press |year=2006 |pages=p. 283}}</ref> As many as 27 members of al-Qaeda attempted to enter the United States to take part in the September 11 attacks.<ref name="911-ch1"/> Mohammed provided operational support, such as selecting targets and helping arrange travel for the hijackers.<ref name="911-ch5"/> Bin Laden overruled Mohammed, rejecting some potential targets such as the [[U.S. Bank Tower]] in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]<ref>{{cite book |title=[[The Looming Tower|The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11]] |author=[[Lawrence Wright|Wright, Lawrence]] |year=2006 |publisher=Knopf |pages=p. 308}}</ref> because "there was not enough time to prepare for such an operation".<ref>{{citenews|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E7DF1031F933A15750C0A9659C8B63|title=Bin Laden Chose 9/11 Targets, Al Qaeda Leader Says|publisher=[[New York Times]]|author=Litchblau, Eric|date=2003-03-20|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The ''National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States'' was formed by the United States government and was commonly called the [[9/11 Commission]]. It released its report on [[July 22]], [[2004]], concluding that the attacks were conceived and implemented by members of al-Qaeda. The Commission stated that "9/11 plotters eventually spent somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000 to plan and conduct their attack, but that the specific origin of the funds used to execute the attacks remained unknown."<ref>{{cite web| title=9/11 panel: Al Qaeda planned to hijack 10 planes| url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/16/911.commission| publisher=[[CNN]]| date=2004-06-17| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> ===Hijackers=== {{main|Organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks|20th hijacker}} Fifteen of the attackers were from [[Saudi Arabia]], two from the [[United Arab Emirates]], one from [[Egypt]], and one from [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Johnston| first=David| title= TWO YEARS LATER: 9/11 TACTICS; Official Says Qaeda Recruited Saudi Hijackers to Strain Ties| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DD143BF93AA3575AC0A9659C8B63| date=2003-09-09| publisher=The New York Times| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> In sharp contrast to the standard profile of suicide bombers, the hijackers were well-educated, mature adults, whose belief systems were fully formed.<ref>{{cite web| last = Clayton| first = Mark| title = Reading into the mind of a terrorist| publisher = [[Christian Science Monitor]]| date= 2003-10-30 | url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1030/p11s01-legn.html| accessdate = 2007-07-06}}</ref> Within hours of the attacks, the FBI was able to determine the names and in many cases the personal details of the suspected pilots and hijackers.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Against All Enemies|Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terrorism]] |last=Clarke |first=Richard A. |year=2004 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |location=New York |isbn=0-743-26823-7 |pages=pp. 13-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = FBI Announces List of 19 Hijackers | publisher = Federal Bureau of Investigation|date=[[September 14]], [[2001]]| url=http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/091401hj.htm| accessdate = 2006-09-07}}</ref> [[Mohamed Atta]]'s luggage, which did not make the connection from his Portland flight onto Flight 11, contained papers that revealed the identity of all 19 hijackers, and other important clues about their plans, motives, and backgrounds.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dorman, Michael |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uslugg274705186apr17,0,6096142.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-print |title=Unraveling 9-11 was in the bags |publisher=[[Newsday]] |date=2006-04-17 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> On the day of the attacks, the [[National Security Agency]] intercepted communications that pointed to Osama bin Laden, as did [[List of intelligence agencies of Germany|German intelligence]] agencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Piece by Piece, The Jigsaw of Terror Revealed |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article218611.ece |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=2001-09-30 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Tagliabue |coauthors=Raymond Bonner |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE5DA173DF93AA1575AC0A9679C8B63 |title=A NATION CHALLENGED: GERMAN INTELLIGENCE; German Data Led U.S. to Search For More Suicide Hijacker Teams |publisher=The New York Times |date=2001-09-29 |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> On [[September 27]], [[2001]], the FBI released photos of the 19 hijackers, along with information about the possible nationalities and aliases of many.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/092701hjpic.htm |title=The FBI releases 19 photographs of individuals believed to be the hijackers of the four airliners that crashed on September 11, 01 |work=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Justice]] |date=2001-09-27 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The FBI investigation into the attacks, code named operation [[PENTTBOM]], was the largest and most complex investigation in the history of the FBI, involving over 7,000 [[special agent]]s.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rolince, Michael E. |url=http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress03/rolince062403.htm |title=The Inspector General's Report and the September 11th Response |work=Federal Bureau of Investigation |publisher=United States Department of Justice |date=2003-06-24 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The [[United States government]] determined that [[al-Qaeda]], headed by Osama bin Laden, bore responsibility for the attacks, with the FBI stating "evidence linking al-Qaeda and bin Laden to the attacks of September 11 is clear and irrefutable".<ref>{{cite web |author=Watson, Dale L. |url=http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress02/watson020602.htm |title=The Terrorist Threat Confronting the United States |work=Federal Bureau of Investigation |publisher=United States Department of Justice |date=2002-02-06 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The [[Her Majesty's Government|Government of the United Kingdom]] reached the same conclusion regarding al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's culpability for the September 11, 2001 attacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page3682.asp |title=Responsibility for the Terrorist Atrocities in the United States, 11 September 2001 |publisher=[[10 Downing Street]] |date=2001-11-14 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> ===Osama bin Laden=== Osama bin Laden's declaration of a [[Religious war|holy war]] against the United States, and a [[Fatāwā of Osama bin Laden#1998 Fatwa|fatwā signed by bin Laden]] and others calling for the killing of American civilians in 1998, are seen by investigators as evidence of his motivation to commit such acts.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gunarathna, Rohan |title=Inside Al Qaeda, Global Network of Terror |year=2002 |publisher=Berkley Books |pages=pp. 61-62}}</ref> [[Image:Bin laden 12 27a.jpg|thumb|left|Screenshot from [[December 27]], [[2001]] bin Laden video.]]Bin Laden initially denied, but later admitted, involvement in the incidents.<ref name="cbc-2004">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2004/10/29/binladen_message041029.html |title=Bin Laden claims responsibility for 9/11 |publisher=CBC News |date=[[October 29]], [[2004]] |accessdate=2007-11-09 |quote=Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden appeared in a new message aired on an Arabic TV station Friday night, for the first time claiming direct responsibility for the 2001 attacks against the United States.}}</ref><ref name="ajNov2004">{{cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=7403 |title=Full transcript of bin Ladin's speech |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=2004-11-02 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> On [[September 16]], [[2001]], bin Laden denied any involvement with the attacks by reading a statement which was broadcast by [[Qatar]]'s [[Al Jazeera]] satellite channel: "I stress that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own motivation."<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan to Demand Taliban Give Up Bin Laden as Iran Seals Afghan Border |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,34440,00.html |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |date=2001-09-16 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> This denial was broadcast on U.S. news networks and worldwide. In November 2001, U.S. forces recovered a videotape from a destroyed house in [[Jalalabad]], Afghanistan, in which Osama bin Laden is talking to [[Khaled bin Ouda bin Mohammed al-Harbi|Khaled al-Harbi]]. In the tape, bin Laden admits foreknowledge of the attacks.<ref>{{cite news | title = Bin Laden on tape: Attacks 'benefited Islam greatly'| publisher = CNN| date= [[December 14]], [[2001]]| url = http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/12/13/ret.bin.laden.videotape/| accessdate = 2007-11-09 |quote=Reveling in the details of the fatal attacks, bin Laden brags in Arabic that he knew about them beforehand and says the destruction went beyond his hopes. He says the attacks "benefited Islam greatly."}}</ref> The tape was broadcast on various news networks from [[December 13]], [[2001]]. His distorted appearance on the tape has been attributed to tape transfer artifact.<ref>{{cite website |author=Haas, Ed |title=Taking the fat out of the fat bin Laden confession video |date=[[March 7]], [[2007]] |publisher=Muckraker Report |url=http://muckrakerreport.com/id372.html |accessdate=2008-05-01 }}</ref> On [[December 27]], [[2001]], a second bin Laden video was released. In the video, he states, "Terrorism against America deserves to be praised because it was a response to injustice, aimed at forcing America to stop its support for [[Israel]], which kills our people," but he stopped short of admitting responsibility for the attacks.<ref>{{cite news | title = Transcript: Bin Laden video excerpts | publisher = BBC News| date= [[December 27]], [[2001]]| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1729882.stm| accessdate = 2006-09-07}}</ref> Shortly before the [[President of the United States|U.S. presidential]] election in 2004, in a [[2004 Osama bin Laden video|taped statement]], bin Laden publicly acknowledged al-Qaeda's involvement in the attacks on the U.S, and admitted his direct link to the attacks. He said that the attacks were carried out because "we are free&hellip;and want to regain freedom for our nation. As you undermine our security we undermine yours."<ref>{{cite web |last=Michael |first=Maggie |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20041029-1423-binladentape.html |title=Bin Laden, in statement to U.S. people, says he ordered Sept. 11 attacks |work=The Associated Press |publisher=SignOnSanDiego.com |date=2004-10-29 |accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> Osama bin Laden says he had personally directed the 19 hijackers.<ref>{{cite news | title = Al-Jazeera: Bin Laden tape obtained in Pakistan| publisher = MSNBC |date=[[October 30]], [[2004]] | url = http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6363306/| accessdate = 2006-09-07}}</ref> In the video, he says, "We had agreed with the Commander-General Muhammad Atta, Allah have mercy on him, that all the operations should be carried out within 20 minutes, before Bush and his administration notice."<ref name="ajNov2004" /> Another video obtained by Al Jazeera in September 2006 shows Osama bin Laden with [[Ramzi Binalshibh]], as well as two hijackers, [[Hamza al-Ghamdi]] and [[Wail al-Shehri]], as they make preparations for the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/07/al-qaeda-tape.html |title=Bin Laden 9/11 planning video aired |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2006-09-07 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> ===Khalid Sheikh Mohammed=== [[Image:Khalid Shaikh Mohammed after capture.jpg‎|thumb|Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after his capture in Pakistan]] In a 2002 interview with [[Al Jazeera]] journalist [[Yosri Fouda]], Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted his involvement, along with [[Ramzi Binalshibh]], in the "Holy Tuesday operation."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,906911,00.html |title='We left out nuclear targets, for now' |publisher=The Guardian |date=2003-03-04 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The [[9/11 Commission Report]] determined that the animosity towards the United States felt by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the "principal architect" of the 9/11 attacks, stemmed "not from his experiences there as a student, but rather from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel."<ref name="911-ch5">{{cite book |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch5.htm |chapter=Chapter 5 |title=9/11 Commission Report |author=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |year=2004}}</ref> Mohamed Atta shared this same motivation. Ralph Bodenstein, a former classmate of Atta described him as "most imbued actually about... U.S. protection of these [[Politics of Israel|Israeli politics]] in the region."<ref>{{cite video |title=Making of the Death Pilots |publisher=MSNBC-TV |date=March 2002}}</ref> [[Abdulaziz al-Omari]], a hijacker aboard Flight 11 with Mohamed Atta, said in his video will, "My work is a message those who heard me and to all those who saw me at the same time it is a message to the infidels that you should leave the Arabian peninsula defeated and stop giving a hand of help to the coward Jews in Palestine."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/september11/oneyearon/story/0,,789253,00.html |title=Al-Qaida tape finally claims responsibility for attacks |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=2002-09-10 |accessdate=2007-05-07}}</ref> Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was arrested on [[March 1]], [[2003]] in [[Rawalpindi]], [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,436061,00.html |title=Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Names Names |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]] |date=2003-03-24 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> Mohammed ultimately ended up at [[Guantanamo Bay detainment camp|Guantanamo Bay]]. During US hearings in March 2007, which have been "widely criticized by lawyers and human rights groups as sham tribunals", Mohammed again confessed his responsibility for the attacks, saying "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6452573.stm |title= Key 9/11 suspect 'admits guilt' |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-03-15 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/081B3141-A5FE-48DA-B56D-81FA26B51316.htm |title=September 11 suspect 'confesses' |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=2007-03-15 |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> ===Other al-Qaeda members=== In "Substitution for Testimony of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed" from the trial of [[Zacarias Moussaoui]], five people are identified as having been completely aware of the operation's details. They are: Osama bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, [[Ramzi Binalshibh]], [[Abu Turab Al-Urduni]] and [[Mohammed Atef]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Substitution for Testimony of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed| pages=p. 24| url=http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/notablecases/moussaoui/exhibits/defense/941.pdf| year=2006| work=[[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia]]| publisher=United States Department of Justice| accessdate=2008-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref> To date, only peripheral figures have been tried or convicted in connection with the attacks. Bin Laden has not yet been formally indicted for the attacks.<ref>{{cite web| last=Clewley| first=Robin | title=How Osama Cracked FBI's Top 10| publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]| date=2001-09-27| url=http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2001/09/47109| accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref> On [[September 26]], [[2005]], the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Audiencia Nacional of Spain|high court]] directed by judge [[Baltasar Garzón]] sentenced [[Abu Dahdah]] to 27 years of imprisonment for [[conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] on the 9/11 attacks and as part of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. At the same time, another 17 al-Qaeda members were sentenced to penalties of between six and eleven years.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/spain-jails-18-alqaeda-operatives/2005/09/27/1127586828047.html| title=Spain jails 18 al-Qaeda operatives| publisher=[[The Age]]| date=2005-09-27| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/09/26/afx2243735.html| title=18 jailed in Spanish Al-Qaeda trial| publisher=[[Forbes]]| date=2005-09-26| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> On [[February 16]], [[2006]], the Spanish [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] reduced the Abu Dahdah penalty to 12 years because it considered that his participation in the conspiracy was not proven.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://spain.usembassy.gov/terrorism2006en.html| title=Country Reports on Terrorism 2006| work=Embassy of the United States in Spain| publisher=United States Department of State| date=2007-10-02| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> ===Motive=== [[Image:UA93 crash site noborder.jpg|thumb|The crash site of [[United Airlines Flight 93]] in [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania|Shanksville, PA]]]] Many of the eventual findings of the 9/11 Commission with respect to motives have been supported by other experts. [[Counter-terrorism]] expert [[Richard A. Clarke]] explains in his book, ''[[Against All Enemies]]'', that U.S. foreign policy decisions including "confronting Moscow in Afghanistan, inserting the U.S. military in the Persian Gulf," and "strengthening Israel as a base for a southern flank against the Soviets" contributed to al-Qaeda's motives.<ref name="Clarke">{{cite book |last=Clarke |first=Richard |title=Against All Enemies |publisher=Free Press |date=2004 |location=New York |pages=p. 35 |id=ISBN 0-7432-6024-4}}</ref> Others, such as [[Jason Burke]], foreign correspondent for ''[[The Observer]]'', focus on a more political aspect to the motive, stating that "bin Laden is an activist with a very clear sense of what he wants and how he hopes to achieve it. Those means may be far outside the norms of political activity [...] but his agenda is a basically political one."<ref name="Burke">{{cite book |last=Burke |first=Jason |title=Al-Qaeda - The True Story of Radical Islam |publisher=I.B. Tauris |date=2004 |location=London, New York |pages=pp. 23, 162-163 |id=ISBN 1-85043-666-5}}</ref> A variety of scholarship has also focused on bin Laden's overall strategy as a motive for the attacks. For instance, correspondent [[Peter Bergen]] argues that the attacks were part of a plan to cause the United States to increase its military and cultural presence in the Middle East, thereby forcing Muslims to confront the "evils" of a non-Muslim government and establish conservative Islamic governments in the region.<ref name="Bergen2">{{cite book |last=Bergen |first=Peter |title=The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader |publisher=Free Press |date=2006 |location=New York |pages=p. 229 |id=ISBN 0-7432-7891-7}}</ref> Michael Scott Doran, correspondent for ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'', further emphasizes the "mythic" use of the term "spectacular" in bin Laden's response to the attacks, explaining that he was attempting to provoke a visceral reaction in the Middle East and ensure that Muslim citizens would react as violently as possible to an increase in U.S. involvement in their region.<ref>{{cite book |last=Doran |first=Michael Scott |title=Understanding the War on Terror |publisher=Norton |date=2005 |location=New York |pages=pp. 72-75 |id=ISBN 0-87609-347-0}}</ref> ==Aftermath== [[Image:White House photo by Eric Draper.jpg|thumb|[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] is briefed on the World Trade Center attack.]] ===Immediate national response=== {{seealso|Airport security repercussions due to the September 11, 2001 attacks|Closings and cancellations following the September 11, 2001 attacks#Travel effects|Aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks}} The 9/11 attacks had immediate and overwhelming effects upon the people of the United States. Many [[police officer]]s and rescue workers elsewhere in the country took leaves of absence to travel to New York City to assist in the process of recovering bodies from the twisted remnants of the Twin Towers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asthma Rates Up Among Ground Zero Workers |work=Associated Press |publisher=CBS News |date=2007-08-27 |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> [[Blood donation]]s across the U.S. also saw a surge in the weeks after 9/11.<ref>{{Cite journal| last=Glynn| first=Simone A.| title=Effect of a National Disaster on Blood Supply and Safety: The September 11 Experience| url=http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/289/17/2246?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1119520325357_713&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&volume=289&firstpage=2246&journalcode=jama | date=2003-05-07| journal=[[Journal of the American Medical Association]]| publisher=[[American Medical Association]]| volume=289| issue=17| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Red Cross Woes| url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec01/redcross_12-19.html| date=2001-12-19| accessdate=2008-05-01| publisher=PBS}}</ref> For the first time in history, all nonemergency civilian aircraft in the United States and several other countries including [[Canada]] were immediately grounded, stranding tens of thousands of passengers across the world.<ref name="Commission">{{cite web| title = Wartime| work = National Commission on Terrorists Attacks upon the United States| publisher = U.S. Congress| url = http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch10.htm| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> Any international flights were closed to American airspace by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]], causing flights to be redirected to other countries. Canada was one of the main recipients of diverted flights and launched [[Operation Yellow Ribbon]] to deal with the large numbers of grounded planes and stranded passengers.<ref name='canadaflights'>{{cite news| title=Chronology - Transport Canada responds to September 11 attacks |date=2006-10-10 |publisher=[[Transport Canada]] |url=http://www.tc.gc.ca/majorissues/transportationsecurity/chrono.htm |accessdate=2007-12-15}}</ref> ===War on Terrorism=== {{main|War on Terrorism}} The [[NATO]] council declared that the attacks on the United States were considered an attack on all NATO nations and, as such, satisfied Article 5 of the NATO charter.<ref>{{cite web| title = Statement by the North Atlantic Council| publisher = NATO|date=[[September 15]], [[2001]]| url = http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p01-124e.htm| accessdate = 2006-09-08| quote="Article 5: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. / Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security."}}</ref> In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the Bush administration declared a [[War on Terrorism|war on terrorism]], with the stated goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and [[al-Qaeda]] to justice and preventing the emergence of other terrorist networks. These goals would be accomplished by means including economic and military sanctions against states perceived as harboring terrorists and increasing global surveillance and intelligence sharing. The second-biggest operation of the U.S. Global War on Terrorism outside of the United States, and the largest directly connected to terrorism, was the overthrow of the [[Taliban]] rule of [[Afghanistan]] by a U.S.-led coalition. The United States was not the only nation to increase its military readiness, with other notable examples being the [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]], countries that have their own internal conflicts with [[Islamist terrorism]].<ref>{{cite paper| author = C. S. Kuppuswamy| title = Terrorism in Indonesia : Role of the Religious Organisation| publisher = South Asia Analysis Group | date= 2005-11-02| url = http://www.saag.org/%5Cpapers16%5Cpaper1596.html| format = [[HTML]]| accessdate =2007-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Banlaoi |first=Rommel | contribution=Radical Muslim Terrorism in the Philippines |year=2006 |title=Handbook on Terrorism and Insurgency in Southeast Asia |editor-last=Tan |editor-first=Andrew |place=London |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing}}</ref> U.S. officials speculated on [[Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|possible involvement by Saddam Hussein]] immediately afterwards.<ref name="IraqSuspect">{{cite news| title=Plans For Iraq Attack Began On 9/11| publisher=CBS News| date=2002-09-04| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/04/september11/main520830.shtml| accessdate=2007-01-08}}</ref> Although these suspicions were unfounded, the association contributed to public acceptance for the [[Iraq War|2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="IraqSuspect" /> ===Domestic response=== [[Image:President George W. Bush address to the nation and joint session of Congress Sept. 20.jpg|thumb|President Bush addresses a joint session of [[United States Congress|Congress]] on [[September 20]], [[2001]]]] Following the attacks, President Bush's job [[United States Presidential approval rating|approval rating]] soared to 86%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/16/poll.htm |title=Poll finds a united nation |date=[[September 16]], [[2001]] |publisher=USA Today |author=Benedetto, Richard and Patrick O'Driscoll|accessdate=2006-09-08}}</ref> On [[September 20]], [[2001]], the U.S. president spoke before the nation and a [[joint session of the United States Congress]], regarding the events of that day, the intervening nine days of rescue and recovery efforts, and his intent in response to those events. In addition, the highly visible role played by [[List of mayors of New York City|New York City mayor]] [[Rudy Giuliani]] won him high praise nationally and in New York.<ref>{{cite web| last = Pooley| first = Eric| title = Mayor of the World| work = Time 2001 Person of the Year| publisher = Time| url = http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/| accessdate = 2006-09-08 }}</ref> Many relief funds were immediately set up to assist victims of the attacks, with the task of providing [[Financial assistance following the September 11, 2001 attacks|financial assistance]] to the [[Survivors of the September 11, 2001 attacks|survivors of the attacks]] and to the families of victims. By the deadline for victim's compensation, [[September 11]] [[2003]], 2,833 applications had been received from the families of those who were killed.<ref>{{cite web| last = Barrett | first = Devlin| title = 9/11 Fund Deadline Passes| publisher =CBS News | date= [[December 23]], [[2003]]| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/16/national/main593715.shtml| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> Contingency plans for the [[continuity of government]] and the evacuation of leaders were also implemented almost immediately after the attacks.<ref name="Commission"/> Congress, however, was not told that the United States was under a continuity of government status until February 2002.<ref>{{cite web| title = 'Shadow Government' News To Congress| publisher = CBS News| date= [[March 2]], [[2002]]| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/03/01/attack/main502530.shtml| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> Within the United States, Congress passed and President Bush signed the [[Homeland Security Act]] of 2002, creating the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]], representing the largest restructuring of the U.S. government in contemporary history. Congress also passed the [[USA PATRIOT Act]], stating that it would help detect and prosecute terrorism and other crimes. Civil liberties groups have criticized the PATRIOT Act, saying that it allows law enforcement to invade the privacy of citizens and eliminates [[judicial oversight]] of [[Police|law-enforcement]] and domestic [[List of intelligence gathering disciplines|intelligence gathering]].<ref name="ACLUAdv"> {{cite press release| url=http://www.aclu.org/safefree/patriot/16745prs20030903.html| title=Uncle Sam Asks: "What The Hell Is Going On Here?"in New ACLU Print and Radio Advertisements| publisher=[[American Civil Liberties Union]]| date=2003-09-03| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Eggen| first=Dan| title=Key Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59626-2004Sep29.html| publisher=[[The Washington Post]]| date=2004-09-30| accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/26/patriot.act/index.html |title= Federal judge rules 2 Patriot Act provisions unconstitutional |accessdate=2008-05-19 |date=2007-09-26 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> The Bush Administration also invoked 9/11 as the reason to initiate a secret [[National Security Agency]] [[NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|operation]], "to eavesdrop on telephone and [[e-mail]] communications between the United States and people overseas without a warrant."<ref>{{cite web| last = VandeHei| first = Jim| coauthors = Dan Eggen| title = Cheney Cites Justifications For Domestic Eavesdropping| publisher = Washington Post| date= [[January 5]], [[2006]]| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/04/AR2006010400973.html| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> ====Hate crimes==== Numerous incidents of harassment and [[hate crime]]s were reported against Middle Easterners and other "Middle Eastern-looking" people, particularly [[Sikh]]s, because Sikh males usually wear [[turban]]s, which are stereotypically associated with [[Muslim]]s in the United States. There were reports of [[Abuse|verbal abuse]], attacks on mosques and other religious buildings (including the firebombing of a [[Hindu temple]]) and assaults on people, including one murder: [[Balbir Singh Sodhi]] was fatally shot on [[September 15]], [[2001]]. He, like others, was a Sikh who was mistaken for a Muslim.<ref>{{cite web| title = Hate crime reports up in wake of terrorist attacks| publisher = CNN|date=[[September 17]], [[2001]]| url = http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/16/gen.hate.crimes/| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> ====Muslim American reaction==== Top Muslim organizations in the United States were swift to condemn the attacks on 9/11 and called "upon [[Islam in the United States|Muslim Americans]] to come forward with their skills and resources to help alleviate the sufferings of the affected people and their families". Top organizations include: [[Islamic Society of North America]], American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]], The [[Islamic Circle of North America]], and the Shari'a Scholars Association of North America. In addition to massive monetary donations, many Islamic organizations launched blood drives and provided medical assistance, food, and residence for victims.<ref>{{cite web| last = American Muslim Leaders| title = Muslim Americans Condemn Attack| publisher = ISNA| url = http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=AM0109-335| accessdate = 2006-12-19}}</ref> Following the attacks, 80,000 [[Arab]] and [[Muslim world|Muslim]] [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] were fingerprinted and registered under the [[Smith Act|Alien Registration Act]] of 1940. 8,000 Arab and Muslim men were interviewed, and 5,000 foreign nationals were detained under Joint Congressional Resolution 107-40 authorizing the use of [[Military|military force]] "to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States."<ref>{{cite web| title = Authorization for Use of Military Force| work = Public Law 107-40 [[S. J. RES. 23]]| publisher = U.S. Congress|date=[[September 18]], [[2001]]| url = http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/terrorism/sjres23.es.html| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> ===International response=== {{mainarticle|World political effects arising from the September 11, 2001 attacks}} [[Image:WTC-remnant highres.jpg|thumb|upright|A New York City firefighter looks up at the remains of the South Tower.]] The attacks were [[Reactions to the September 11, 2001 attacks|denounced]] by [[Mass media|mainstream media]] and governments worldwide. Across the globe, nations offered pro-American support and solidarity.<ref>{{cite web| last=Hertzberg| first=Hendrik| title=Lost love| publisher=[[The New Yorker]]| url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/11/060911ta_talk_hertzberg| date=2006-09-11| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> Leaders in most Middle Eastern countries, including Afghanistan, condemned the attacks. Iraq was a notable exception, with an immediate official statement that "the American cowboys are reaping the fruit of their [[Crime against humanity|crimes against humanity]]."<ref>{{cite web|title=Attacks draw mixed response in Mideast|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/12/mideast.reaction/index.html|publisher=CNN.com|date=2001-09-12|accessdate=2007-03-30}}</ref> Another publicized exception was the [[Celebrations of the September 11, 2001 attacks|celebration of some Palestinians]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Saleh, Heba|title=Mixed response from Arab World|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1538861.stm|date=2001-09-11|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> Approximately one month after the attacks, the United States led a broad [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)#Nature of the coalition|coalition]] of international forces in the removal of the [[Taliban]] regime for harboring the [[al-Qaeda]] organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. President Bush's speech to United Nations |publisher=CNN |date= [[November 10]], [[2001]] |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/11/10/ret.bush.un.transcript/index.html |accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> The [[Pakistan]]i authorities moved decisively to align themselves with the United States in a war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Pakistan provided the United States a number of military airports and bases for its attack on the Taliban regime and arrested over 600 supposed al-Qaeda members, whom it handed over to the United States.<ref>{{cite web| last = Khan| first = Aamer Ahmed| title = Pakistan and the 'key al-Qaeda' man| publisher = BBC| date= [[May 4]], [[2005]]| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4513281.stm| accessdate = 2006-09-08 }}</ref> Numerous countries, including the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[India]], [[Australia]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Indonesia]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Canada]], [[Russia]], [[Pakistan]], [[Jordan]], [[Mauritius]], [[Uganda]] and [[Zimbabwe]] introduced "anti-terrorism" legislation and froze the [[bank account]]s of businesses and individuals they suspected of having al-Qaeda ties.<ref>{{cite web| last=Hamilton| first=Stuart| title=September 11, the Internet, and the effects on information provision in Libraries| work=68th IFLA Council and Conference| date=2002-08-24| url=http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla68/papers/156-079e.pdf| format=pdf| accessdate=2006-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.g8.fr/evian/english/navigation/g8_documents/archives_from_previous_summits/kananaskis_summit_-_2002/g8_counter-terrorism_cooperation_since_september_11th_backgrounder.html|title=G8 counter-terrorism cooperation since [[September 11]] backgrounder|accessdate=2006-09-14|publisher=Site Internet du Sommet du G8 d'Evian}}</ref> Law enforcement and [[Intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]] in a number of countries, including [[Italy]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], and the [[Philippines]] arrested people they labeled terrorist suspects for the stated purpose of breaking up militant cells around the world.<ref>{{cite web| last = Walsh| first = Courtney C| title = Italian police explore Al Qaeda links in cyanide plot| publisher = Christian Science Monitor| date= [[March 7]], [[2002]]| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0307/p07s02-woeu.html | accessdate =2006-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = SE Asia unites to smash militant cells| publisher = CNN| date= [[May 8]], [[2002]]| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/05/07/seasia.terror.pact/| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> In the U.S., this aroused some controversy, as critics such as the [[Bill of Rights Defense Committee]] argued that traditional restrictions on federal surveillance (e.g. [[COINTELPRO]]'s monitoring of public meetings) were "dismantled" by the [[USA PATRIOT Act]].<ref>{{cite web| last = Talanian| first = Nancy| title = A Guide to Provisions of the USA Patriot Act and Federal Executive Orders that threaten civil liberties| publisher = Bill of Rights Defense Committee| date= 2002| url = http://www.bordc.org/resources/repeal.pdf| format = pdf| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> [[Civil liberties|Civil liberty]] organizations such as the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and [[Liberty (pressure group)|Liberty]] argued that certain [[civil rights]] protections were also being circumvented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://action.aclu.org/reformthepatriotact/primer.html|title=Reform the Patriot Act -- Do not Expand It!|publisher=[[American Civil Liberties Union]]|accessdate=2006-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/2-terrorism/index.shtml|title=Liberty - Protecting Civil Liberties Promoting Human Rights : Terrorism|publisher=[[Liberty (pressure group)|Liberty]]|accessdate=2006-09-14}}</ref> The United States set up a detention center at [[Guantánamo Bay, Cuba|Guantanamo Bay]], [[Cuba]], to hold what they termed "[[unlawful combatant|illegal enemy combatants]]". The legitimacy of these detentions has been questioned by, among others, the [[European Parliament]], the [[Organization of American States]], and [[Amnesty International]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Euro MPs urge Guantanamo closure| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5074216.stm| publisher=BBC News| date=2006-06-13| accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mendez |first=Juan E. |author-link=Juan E. Méndez|date=2002-03-13 |title=Detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Request for Precautionary Measures, Inter-Am. C.H.R. |url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/cases/guantanamo-2003.html |publisher=[[University of Minnesota]] |accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=USA: Release or fair trials for all remaining Guantánamo detainees|url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/usa-release-or-fair-trials-all-remaining-guant%C3%A1namo-detainees-20080502|publisher=Amnesty International|date=2008-05-02|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> ===Conspiracy theories=== {{Main|9/11 conspiracy theories}} Various [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] have emerged subsequent to the attacks suggesting that individuals inside the United States knew the attacks were coming and deliberately chose not to prevent them, or that individuals outside of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda planned or carried out the attacks.<ref>{{cite news| last=Stillwell| first=Cinnamon| title=The Truth About 9/11 Conspiracy Theories| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/2006/04/19/cstillwell.DTL&type=printable| publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]| date=2006-04-19| accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> The community of [[civil engineer]]s generally accepts the mainstream account that the impacts of jets at high speeds in combination with subsequent fires, rather than controlled demolition, led to the collapse of the Twin Towers.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Bazant| first=Zdenek P.| coauthors=Mathieu Verdure |month=March |year=2007 |title=Mechanics of Progressive Collapse: Learning from World Trade Center and Building Demolitions |journal=Journal of Engineering Mechanics |publisher=[[American Society of Civil Engineers]] | volume=133| issue=3| pages=pp. 308-319| url=http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/466.pdf| doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2007)133:3(308)| accessdate=2008-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref> ==Investigations== [[Image:World Trade Center 9-11 Attacks Illustration with Vertical Impact Locations.svg|thumb|An illustration of the impact points on the World Trade Center]] ===9/11 Commission=== {{main|9/11 Commission}} The ''National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States'' ([[9/11 Commission]]), chaired by former [[Governor of New Jersey|New Jersey Governor]] [[Thomas Kean]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/about/bio_kean.htm|title=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States|publisher=govinfo.library.unt.edu|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> was formed in late 2002 to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the attacks, including preparedness for, and the immediate response to, the attacks. On [[July 22]], [[2004]], the 9/11 Commission issued the [[9/11 Commission Report]]. The commission and its report have been subject to various forms of [[Criticism of the 9/11 Commission|criticism]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard A. |last=Posner |title=The 9/11 Report: A Dissent |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6D81E3FF93AA1575BC0A9629C8B63 |publisher=''The New York Times''|date=[[29 August]] [[2004]] |accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/23/commission.senators/index.html |title=Republicans amplify criticism of 9/11 commission |accessdate=2008-04-14 |author=Ed Henry |date=[[26 April]] [[2004]] |publisher=CNN.com}}</ref> ===Collapse of the World Trade Center=== {{main|Collapse of the World Trade Center}} [[Image:September 11 2001 just collapsed.jpg|thumb|upright|Lower Manhattan after the North Tower collapsed]] A federal technical building and [[fire safety]] investigation of the collapses of the Twin Towers and 7&nbsp;WTC has been conducted by the [[United States Department of Commerce]]'s [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] ([[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]]). The goals of this investigation were to investigate why the buildings collapsed, the extent of injuries and fatalities, and the procedures involved in designing and managing the World Trade Center.<ref name="NISTInvest">{{cite web |title=NIST’s World Trade Center Investigation |url=http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/nist_investigation_911.htm |work=National Institute of Standards and Technology |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |date=2007-12-14 |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> The report concluded that the [[fireproofing]] on the Twin Towers' [[steel]] infrastructures was blown off by the initial impact of the planes and that, if this had not occurred, the towers would likely have remained standing.<ref name="NISTCollapse">{{cite book |author=National Construction Safety Team |url=http://wtc.nist.gov/NISTNCSTAR1CollapseofTowers.pdf |title=Final Report on the Collapse of the World Trade Center Towers |work=National Institute of Standards and Technology|publisher=United States Department of Commerce |chapter=Executive Summary |date=September 2005| accessdate=2008-05-21|format=PDF}}</ref> This was confirmed by an independent study by Purdue University.<ref>{{cite news | title = Simulation finds 9/11 fireproofing key | last = Hermann | first = Steve | publisher = Associated Press | url = http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jun20/0,4670,AttacksSimulation,00.html | accessdate = 2007-10-02}}</ref> [[Gene Corley]], the director of the original investigation, commented that "the towers really did amazingly well. The terrorist aircraft didn’t bring the buildings down; it was the fire which followed. It was proven that you could take out two thirds of the columns in a tower and the building would still stand." <ref name="TerrorProof">{{cite web |title=Building a Terror-Proof Skyscraper: Experts Debate Feasibility, Options |first=Pete |last=Sigmund |url=http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=2598&headline=Building%20a%20Terror-Proof%20Skyscraper:%20Experts%20Debate%20Feasibility,%20Options |accessdate=2008-01-24 |date=2002-09-25}}</ref> The fires weakened the trusses supporting the floors, making the floors sag. The sagging floors pulled on the exterior steel columns to the point where exterior columns bowed inward. With the damage to the core columns, the buckling exterior columns could no longer support the buildings, causing them to collapse. In addition, the report asserts that the towers' stairwells were not adequately reinforced to provide [[Fire escape|emergency escape]] for people above the impact zones. NIST stated that the final report on the collapse of 7&nbsp;WTC will appear in a separate report.<ref name="NIST">{{cite web | title=Translating WTC Reccomendations Into Model Building Codes | publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology | url=http://wtc.nist.gov/NIBS_MMC/CodeChangeProposals.htm | accessdate=2008-01-24 | date=2007-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Reports of the Federal Building and Fire Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster| publisher = National Institute of Standards and Technology|date=[[October 26]], [[2005]]| url = http://wtc.nist.gov/reports_october05.htm| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> ===Internal review of the CIA=== The Inspector General of the CIA conducted an internal review of the CIA's pre-9/11 performance, and was harshly critical of senior CIA officials for not doing everything possible to confront terrorism, including failing to stop two of the 9/11 hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, as they entered the United States and failing to share information on the two men with the FBI.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article3.html |title=Deep Background |publisher=American Conservative| date=2005-04-01 |accessdate=2007-03-29}}</ref> In May 2007, senators from both the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] drafted legislation that would openly present an internal CIA investigative report. One of the backers, Senator [[Ron Wyden]] stated "The American people have a right to know what the Central Intelligence Agency was doing in those critical months before 9/11.... I am going to bulldog this until the public gets it." The report investigates the responsibilities of individual CIA personnel before and after the 9/11 attacks. The report was completed in 2005, but its details have never been released to the public.<ref>{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Shrader |title=Senators Want CIA to Release 9/11 Report |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/17/national/w131436D49.DTL |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=[[17 May]] [[2007]] |accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> ==Long-term effects== ===Economic aftermath=== [[Image:Manhattan on September 12 - Landsat7.jpg|thumb|[[September 12]]: [[Manhattan]] spreads a large smoke plume]] The attacks had a [[Economic effects arising from the September 11, 2001 attacks|significant economic impact]] on the United States and world markets. The [[New York Stock Exchange]] (NYSE), the [[American Stock Exchange]], and [[NASDAQ]] did not open on [[September 11]] and remained closed until [[September 17]]. When the [[stock market]]s reopened, the [[Dow Jones Industrial Average]] (“DJIA”) stock market index fell 684 points, or 7.1%, to 8921, its biggest-ever one-day point decline.<ref>{{cite web| title=Markets reopen, plunge| last=Barnhart| first=Bill| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-010917markets,1,2882341.story| publisher=Chicago Tribune| date=2001-09-17| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> By the end of the week, the DJIA had fallen 1,369.7 points (14.3%), its largest one-week point drop in history.<ref name="MarkDec">{{cite news |first=Fernandez |last=Bob |title=U.S. Markets Decline Again |work=KRTBN Knight Ridder Tribune Business News |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=2001-09-22 |accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> U.S. stocks lost $1.4 trillion in value for the week.<ref name="MarkDec" /> In New York City, there were approximately 430,000 lost job months and $2.8 billion in lost wages, which occurred in the three months following the 9/11 attacks. The economic effects were mainly focused on the city's [[export]] economy sectors.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Dolfman, Michael L., Solidelle F. Wasser |journal=Monthly Labor Review |volume=127 |date=2004 |title=9/11 and the New York City Economy}}</ref> The [[GDP]] for New York City was estimated to have declined by $27.3 billion for the last three months of 2001 and all of 2002. The Federal government provided $11.2 billion in immediate assistance to the [[Government of New York City]] in September 2001, and $10.5 billion in early 2002 for economic development and infrastructure needs.<ref name="crs-5">{{cite web |author=Makinen, Gail |url=http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL31617.pdf |title=The Economic Effects of 9/11: A Retrospective Assessment |pages=p. 5 |date=2002-09-27 |work=Congressional Research Service |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |accessdate=2008-05-21|format=PDF}}</ref> The 9/11 attacks also had great impact on small businesses in [[Lower Manhattan]], located near the [[World Trade Center]]. Approximately 18,000 [[small business]]es were destroyed or displaced after the attacks. The [[Small Business Administration]] provided loans as assistance, while Community Development Block Grants and Economic Injury Disaster Loans were other ways that the Federal Government provided assistance to small business effected by the 9/11 attacks.<ref name="crs-5" /> 31.9 million [[square foot|square feet]] of [[Lower Manhattan]] office space was either damaged or destroyed.<ref>{{cite web| last=Hensell| fisrt=Lesley| title=Tough Times Loom For Manhattan Commercial Market| url=http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20011214_downtown.htm| publisher=Realty Times| date=2001-12-14| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> Many questioned whether these lost jobs would ever be restored, and whether the damaged [[Tax|tax base]] could ever recover.<ref>{{cite web| last = Parrott| first = James| title = The Employment Impact of the September 11 World Trade Center Attacks: Updated Estimates based on the Benchmarked Employment Data| publisher = The Fiscal Policy Institute| date= [[March 8]], [[2002]]| url = http://www.fiscalpolicy.org/Employment%20Impact%20of%20September%2011_Update.pdf| format = pdf| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> Economic studies of the effects of 9/11 have confirmed that the impact of the attacks on the Manhattan office market as well as on office employment was more limited than initially expected because of the strong need for face-to-face interaction in the financial services industry.<ref>{{cite web| last = Fuerst| first = Franz| title = Exogenous Shocks and Real Estate Rental Markets: An Event Study of the 9/11 Attacks and their Impact on the New York Office Market | publisher = Russell Sage Foundation|date=[[September 7]], [[2005]]| url = http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=800006| accessdate = 2007-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Russell| first = James S.| title = Do skyscrapers still make sense? Revived downtowns and new business models spur tall-building innovation. | publisher = Architectural Record| date= [[November 7]], [[2004]]| url = http://archrecord.construction.com/innovation/2_Features/0411SkyscraperSense.asp| accessdate = 2007-05-10}}</ref> North American [[Airspace|air space]] was closed for several days after the attacks and [[Airliner|air travel]] decreased significantly upon its reopening. The attacks led to nearly a 20% cutback in air travel capacity, and severely exacerbated financial problems in the struggling U.S. [[airline]] industry.<ref>{{cite web| last=Bhadra| first=Dipasis| coauthors=Pamela Texter| title=Airline Networks: An Econometric Framework to Analyze Domestic U.S. Air Travel| publisher=[[United States Department of Transportation]]| date=2004| url=http://www.bts.gov/publications/journal_of_transportation_and_statistics/volume_07_number_01/html/paper_06/| accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> ===Health effects=== [[Image:September 14 2001 Ground Zero 02.jpg|thumb|upright|A solitary firefighter stands amid the rubble and smoke in New York City]] The thousands of tons of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants, including known carcinogens.<ref>{{cite news| first=Anita |last=Gates |title=Buildings Rise from Rubble while Health Crumbles |publusher=[[The New York Times]] |date=2006-09-11 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/11/arts/television/11dust.html?ref=nyregionspecial3 |accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/09/05/nyregion/20060905_HEALTH_GRAPHIC.html |title=What was Found in the Dust |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |date=[[September 5]], [[2006]]|accessdate=2006-09-08}}</ref> This has led to [[Health effects arising from the September 11, 2001 attacks|debilitating illnesses]] among rescue and recovery workers, which many claim to be directly linked to debris exposure.<ref name="DustDeath">{{cite web | title= New York: 9/11 toxins caused death | publisher= CNN.com| date=2007-05-24 | work= | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/24/wtc.dust/index.html | accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/nyregion/13symptoms.html| title=Tracing Lung Ailments That Rose With 9/11 Dust| last=DePalma| first=Anthony| date=2006-05-13| publisher=The New York Times| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> For example, NYPD Officer Frank Macri died of lung cancer that spread throughout his body on September 3, 2007; his family contends the cancer is the result of long hours on the site and they have filed for line-of-duty death benefits, which the city has yet to rule on.<ref>{{cite news| last=Shapiro| first=Rich| title=Cancer ends his fitness life after toil at the Pit| publisher=New York Daily News| date=2007-09-10| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/10/2007-09-10_cancer_ends_his_fitness_life_after_toil_.html| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> Health effects have also extended to some residents, students, and office workers of Lower Manhattan and nearby [[Chinatown, Manhattan|Chinatown]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Updated Ground Zero Report Examines Failure of Government to Protect Citizens| publisher=Sierra Club| date=2006| url=http://www.sierraclub.org/groundzero/| accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> Several deaths have been linked to the toxic dust caused by the World Trade Center's collapse and the victims' names will be included in the World Trade Center memorial.<ref>{{cite web| last=Smith| first=Stephen| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/28/national/main4049362.shtml| title=9/11 "Wall Of Heroes" To Include Sick Cops| publisher=CBS News| date=2008-04-28| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> There is also scientific speculation that exposure to various toxic products in the air may have negative effects on [[Prenatal development|fetal development]]. Due to this potential hazard, a notable children's environmental health center is currently analyzing the children whose mothers were pregnant during the WTC collapse, and were living or working near the World Trade Center towers.<ref>{{cite web| title = CCCEH Study of the Effects of 9/11 on Pregnant Women and Newborns| work = World Trade Center Pregnancy Study| publisher = Columbia University| date= 2006| url =http://www.familiesofseptember11.org/docs/CCCEH%20Study%20Intro.pdf|accessdate=2008-04-14|format=PDF}}</ref> Legal disputes over the attendant costs of illnesses related to the attacks are still in the court system. On [[October 17]], [[2006]], [[United States federal judge|federal judge]] [[Alvin Hellerstein]] rejected New York City's refusal to pay for health costs for rescue workers, allowing for the possibility of numerous suits against the city.<ref>{{cite news| first=Anthony |last=DePalma |title=Many Ground Zero Workers Gain Chance at Lawsuits |publusher=[[The New York Times]] |date=2006-10-18 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/18toxic.html?ref=nyregion |accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> Government officials have been faulted for urging the public to return to lower Manhattan in the weeks shortly following the attacks. [[Christine Todd Whitman]], administrator of the [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] in the aftermath of the attacks, was heavily criticized for incorrectly saying that the area was environmentally safe.<ref>{{cite web |first=Larry |last=Neumeister |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/02/02/national/a142556S81.DTL |title=Judge Slams Ex-EPA Chief Over Sept. 11 |work=Associated Press |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2006-02-02 |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> President Bush was criticized for interfering with EPA interpretations and pronouncements regarding air quality in the aftermath of the attacks.<ref>{{cite news | last = Heilprin| first = John| title = White House edited EPA's 9/11 reports| publisher = Seattle Post-Intelligencer| date = 2003-06-23| url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/136350_epa23.html?rand=26878.51| accessdate = 2008-04-12}}</ref> In addition, Mayor Giuliani was criticized for urging financial industry personnel to return quickly to the greater [[Wall Street]] area.<ref>{{cite news| last=Smith| first=Ben| title=RUDY'S BLACK CLOUD. WTC health risks may hurt Prez bid| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2006/09/18/2006-09-18_rudy_s_black_cloud__wtc_heal.html| publisher=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]| date=2006-09-18| accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> ===Rebuilding=== On the day of the attacks, Giuliani proclaimed, "We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again."<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Tess |url=http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0926/today.html |title=Rebuilding in New York |date=2001-09-26 |publisher=Architecture Week |issue=68 |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> Debris removal officially ended in May 2002.<ref>{{cite news| title=Silent Tribute Marks End of Ground Zero Search| url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,54002,00.html| publisher=Fox News| date=2002-05-30| accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref> The [[Lower Manhattan Development Corporation]], responsible for rebuilding the [[World Trade Center site]], has been criticized for doing little with the enormous funding directed to the rebuilding efforts.<ref>{{cite web| last = Lubell| first = Sam| coauthors = Charles Linn| title = Power Struggle Heats Up While Development Moves Slowly at Ground Zero| publisher = Architectural Record| date= [[December 5]], [[2005]]| url = http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/051205groundzero.asp| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Buettner| first = Russ| title = Fat cats milked Ground Zero | publisher = Daily News| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/index.html/story/371361p-315964c.html| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> On the sites of the totally destroyed buildings, one, [[7 World Trade Center]], has a new [[Skyscraper|office tower]] which was completed in 2006. The [[Freedom Tower]] is currently under construction at the site and at 1,776&nbsp;ft (541&nbsp;m) upon completion in 2011, will become the [[List of tallest buildings and structures in the world|one of the tallest buildings]] in North America, behind the [[Chicago Spire]] and the [[CN Tower]] in [[Toronto]]. Three more towers are expected to be built between 2007 and 2012 on the site, and will be located one block east of where the original towers stood. The damaged section of the Pentagon was rebuilt and occupied within a year of the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oglesby |first=Christy |title=Phoenix rises: Pentagon honors 'hard-hat patriots' |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/09/11/ar911.memorial.pentagon/ |publisher=CNN |date=2002-09-11 |accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> ====Memorials==== In the days immediately following the attacks, [[September 11, 2001 attack memorials and services|many memorials and vigils were held]] around the world.<ref>{{cite news | title = Honoring the fallen, From New York to Texas, Americans pay respect to the victims of terrorism| publisher = [[The Dallas Morning News]]| date= 2001-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Ahrens| first = Frank | title = Sorrow's Legions; Washingtonians Gather With Candles, Prayers And a Shared Grief| publisher = [[The Washington Post]]| date= 2001-09-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Bush Thanks Canadians for Helping After 9/11| publisher = [[Fox News]]| date= 2004-12-01| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140098,00.html| accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> In addition, pictures were placed all over [[World Trade Center|Ground Zero]]. A witness described being unable to "get away from faces of innocent victims who were killed. Their pictures are everywhere, on phone booths, street lights, walls of subway stations. Everything reminded me of a huge funeral, people quiet and sad, but also very nice. Before, New York gave me a cold feeling; now people were reaching out to help each other.”<ref name="Sigmund">{{cite web | publisher=Construction Equipment Guide | first=Pete | last=Sigmund | date=2001-09-26 | accessdate=2008-01-24 | title=Crews Assist Rescuers in Massive WTC Search | url=http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=1531&headline=Crews%20Assist%20Rescuers%20in%20Massive%20WTC%20Search}}</ref> [[Image:Wtc-2004-memorial.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Tribute in Light]] viewed from [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] on the anniversary of the attacks in 2004]] One of the first memorials was the [[Tribute in Light]], an installation of 88 searchlights at the footprints of the World Trade Center towers which projected two vertical columns of light into the sky.<ref>{{cite web| title = Tribute in light to New York victims| publisher = [[BBC News]]| date= 2002-03-06| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1857699.stm| accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> In New York, the [[World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition]] was held to design an appropriate memorial on the site. The winning design, ''[[Reflecting Absence]]'', was selected in August 2006, and consists of a pair of reflecting pools in the footprints of the towers, surrounded by a list of the victims' names in an underground memorial space.<ref>{{cite web| coauthors = [[Associated Press]]| title = WTC Memorial Construction Begins| publisher = [[CBS News]]| date= 2006-03-06| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/13/national/main1393070.shtml| accessdate = 2007-07-22}}</ref> Plans for a museum on the site have been put on hold, following the abandonment of the [[International Freedom Center]] after criticism from the families of many victims.<ref>{{cite news| last=Dunlap| first=David| title=Governor Bars Freedom Center at Ground Zero| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/29/nyregion/29freedom.html| publisher=The New York Times| date=2005-09-25| accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> At the Pentagon, an outdoor [[Pentagon Memorial|memorial]] is currently under construction, which will consist of a landscaped park with 184 benches facing the Pentagon.<ref name="dwyer-may2007">{{cite news |last=Dwyer |first=Timothy |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/25/AR2007052502284.html |title=Pentagon Memorial Progress Is Step Forward for Families |date=2007-05-26 |publisher=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> When the Pentagon was rebuilt in 2001–2002, a private chapel and indoor memorial were included, located at the spot where Flight 77 crashed into the building.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/newsphoto.aspx?newsphotoid=4018 |title=DefenseLINK News Photos - Pentagon's America's Heroes Memorial |publisher=Department of Defense |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> At Shanksville, a permanent [[Flight 93 National Memorial]] is in planning stages, which will include a sculpted grove of trees forming a circle around the crash site, bisected by the plane's path, while wind chimes will bear the names of the victims.<ref>{{cite web| coauthors = [[Associated Press]]| title = Sept. 11 Flight 93 Memorial Design Chosen| publisher = [[Fox News]]| date= 2005-09-08| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168821,00.html| accessdate = 2007-07-22}}</ref> A temporary memorial is located {{convert|500|yd|0}} from the Flight 93 crash site near Shanksville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/flni |title=Flight 93 Memorial Project |publisher=Flight 93 Memorial Project / National Park Service |accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> Many other permanent memorials are being constructed around the world and a list is being updated as new ones are completed.<ref>{{cite web| coauthors = | title = 911 Memorials List| work = List of 911 and World Trade Center Memorials Across U.S. and the World| url = http://911memorials.org/usa/| accessdate = 2006-09-08}}</ref> In addition to physical monuments, scholarships and charities have been established by the victims' loved ones, along with many other organizations and private figures.<ref>{{cite news| last=Fessenden| first=Ford| title= 9/11; After the World Gave: Where $2 Billion in Kindness Ended Up| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E3DB1030F93BA25752C1A9649C8B63| publisher=The New York Times| date=2002-11-18| accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> ==See also== {|width=100% |-valign=top |width=50%| *[[1993 World Trade Center bombing]] *[[2001 anthrax attacks]] *[[9/11 Commission]] *[[Lost artworks#Works destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks|Artworks destroyed during the 9/11 attacks]] *''[[Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US]]'' *[[Communication during the September 11, 2001 attacks]] *[[EPA 9/11 pollution controversy]] *[[Freedom Tower]] |width=50%| *[[International reactions to the September 11, 2001 attacks]] *[[Mayoralty of Rudy Giuliani]] *[[Planning of the September 11, 2001 attacks]] *[[September 11, 2001 attacks in popular culture]] *[[September 11, 2001 radio communications]] *[[Survivors of the September 11, 2001 attacks]] *[[Videos of Osama bin Laden]] *[[World Trade Center (PATH station)|World Trade Center PATH station]] *[[World Trade Center site]] |} == References == <!-- How to add a footnote: NOTE: There is a new reference system on Wikipedia, which should be easier to use. For details, please see "Wikipedia:Footnotes" and http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite.php--> {{reflist|2}} ==External links== <!-- ATTENTION! DO NOT ADD LINKS WITHOUT DISCUSSION AND CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE. OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE REMOVED. --> {{sisterlinks|September 11|q=September 11, 2001 attacks}} {{commonscat|9/11}} * [http://www.9-11commission.gov/ 9-11Commission.gov] - 'National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States' (Official Website &ndash; ''archived'') * [http://911digitalarchive.org/ 911DigitalArchive.org] - 'September 11 Digital Archive: Saving the Histories of [[September 11]], 2001' (in partnership with the [[Library of Congress]]) * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/americas/2001/day_of_terror/ BBC News] - 'America's Day of Terror' * [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/911_archive/ Memory.loc.gov] - 'September 11, 2001, Documentary Project', The [[Library of Congress]] * [http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/fdny_dispatches.htm TheMemoryHole.org] - New York Fire Department audio tapes from [[September 11]] [[2001]]. * [http://wcbstv.com/911 WCBS-TV] - September 11 Remembered * [http://www.ny1.com/ny1/WTC_Coverage/ NY1.com] - [[NY1|New York One]] News Television, 'World Trade Center Special Section' ([[June 7]], [[2005]]) * {{newseum front page archive|month=09|day=12|year=01}} * [http://www.september11archive.com/ September 11, 2001 Newspaper Articles Archive] - More than 15,000 [[Free daily newspaper|free newspaper]] articles related to the 9/11/2001 attacks. * [http://www.interactivepublishing.net/september/ September 11, 2001 Screenshot Archive] - Database of 230 screenshots from news sites around the world. * [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/attacked/sept11/ Washington Post] - 'Terrorists Unleash Assault on US' * [http://dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Terrorism/Incidents/September_11,_2001/ Open Directory] - September 11, 2001 ===Multimedia=== <!-- ATTENTION! DO NOT ADD LINKS WITHOUT DISCUSSION AND CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE. OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE REMOVED. --> {{Seealso|Category:Films based on the September 11, 2001 attacks}} * [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/multimedia.day.html CNN.com] - Video archive, including the first and second planes. * [http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/inside911/ Inside 9/11] - [[National Geographic]] * [http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered/ Time.com] - 'Shattered: a remarkable collection of photographs', [[James Nachtwey]] * [http://wherewereyou.org/ Memories of the attack] (see [[flashbulb memory]]) * [http://www.slate.com/features/911report/ Slate's The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón] ===Memorials=== <!-- ATTENTION! DO NOT ADD LINKS WITHOUT DISCUSSION AND CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE. OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE REMOVED. --> * [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/ CNN September 11 Memorial] - List of victims, and photos. * [http://www.sep11memories.org/ In Memoriam: September 11, 2001] - A read-only [[wiki]] {{Campaignbox al-Qaeda attacks}} {{Sept11}} {{WTC navigation}} {{War on Terrorism}} [[Category:September 11, 2001 attacks|*]] [[Category:Building fires in the United States]] [[Category:Islamic terrorism]] [[Category:Terrorism in the United States]] [[Category:Al-Qaeda activities]] [[Category:Filmed deaths]] {{Link FA|sv}} {{Link FA|ml}} {{Link FA|bs}} [[ar:أحداث 11 سبتمبر 2001]] [[az:11 sentyabr terror aktları]] [[bn:সেপ্টেম্বর ১১, ২০০১ এর হামলা]] [[be-x-old:9/11]] [[bs:Napadi 11. septembra 2001.]] [[bg:Атентати от 11 септември 2001 г.]] [[ca:Atemptats de l'11 de setembre de 2001]] [[cs:Teroristické útoky 11. září 2001]] [[cy:Ymosodiadau 11 Medi 2001]] [[da:Terrorangrebet den 11. september 2001]] [[pdc:Der 11 September 2001]] [[de:Terroranschläge am 11. September 2001]] [[et:11. septembri terrorirünnakud]] [[el:Επιθέσεις της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου 2001]] [[es:Atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001]] [[eo:11-a de septembro 2001]] [[eu:2001eko irailaren 11ko atentatuak]] [[fa:حملات ۱۱ سپتامبر]] [[fr:Attentats du 11 septembre 2001]] [[ga:9/11]] [[gl:Ataques do 11 de setembro de 2001]] [[gan:九一一事件]] [[ko:9·11 테러]] [[hr:Napadi 11. rujna 2001.]] [[io:Atenti ye 11 di septembro 2001]] [[id:Serangan 11 September 2001]] [[is:Hryðjuverkin 11. september 2001]] [[it:Attentati dell'11 settembre 2001]] [[he:פיגועי 11 בספטמבר]] [[sw:Shambulio la 11 Septemba 2001]] [[la:11 Septembris 2001]] [[lv:2001. gada 11. septembra uzbrukums ASV]] [[lb:Terroruschléi vum 11. September 2001 an den USA]] [[lt:Rugsėjo 11 d. atakos]] [[li:Aonsleeg vaan 11 september 2001]] [[hu:2001. szeptember 11-i terrortámadás]] [[ml:സെപ്റ്റംബര്‍ 11ലെ ഭീകരാക്രമണം]] [[ms:Serangan 11 September 2001]] [[nl:Aanslagen op 11 september 2001]] [[ja:アメリカ同時多発テロ事件]] [[no:Terrorangrepet 11. september 2001]] [[uz:2001 yil 11 sentabr terroristik hurujlari]] [[pl:Zamach na World Trade Center i Pentagon]] [[pt:Ataques de 11 de Setembro de 2001]] [[ksh:Anschlääch vam 11. September 2001]] [[ro:Atentatele din 11 septembrie 2001]] [[ru:Террористический акт 11 сентября 2001 года]] [[sco:11t September attacks]] [[simple:September 11, 2001 attacks]] [[sk:Útoky z 11. septembra 2001]] [[sl:Teroristični napadi 11. septembra 2001]] [[sr:Напади 11. септембра 2001.]] [[sh:Napadi 11. septembra 2001.]] [[fi:Syyskuun 11. päivän iskut]] [[sv:11 september-attackerna]] [[ta:செப்டம்பர் 11, 2001 தாக்குதல்கள்]] [[th:วินาศกรรม 11 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2544]] [[vi:Sự kiện 11 tháng 9]] [[chr:ᏚᎵᏍᏗ 11, 2001 ᏗᎦᏘᎸᏍᏗ]] [[tr:11 Eylül 2001 Saldırıları]] [[uk:Терористичний акт 11 вересня 2001 року]] [[vec:Atentati de l'11 setenbre]] [[yi:9/11]] [[zh-yue:911事件]] [[zh:九一一袭击事件]]