September 11 attacks

The September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that took place in the United States on 11 September 2001. Terrorism is the use of violence to create fear and force political change. On that day, four commercial airplanes were hijacked by members of an extremist group called al-Qaeda. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. A third plane struck the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, near Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to regain control. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.

The attacks began in the morning when hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. Both planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The World Trade Center was a group of tall office buildings in lower Manhattan. The impacts and resulting fires caused both towers to collapse later that morning. Many people inside the buildings and nearby were killed or injured. Emergency workers, including firefighters and police officers, responded quickly to help evacuate people and fight fires.

At the same time, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon. The Pentagon is the main office building for the United States military. The crash caused serious damage to part of the building and killed people inside the plane and on the ground. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was heading toward Washington, D.C. Passengers learned about the other attacks through phone calls and decided to resist the hijackers. The plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board but preventing another target from being hit.

The group responsible for the attacks was al-Qaeda, an extremist organization led by Osama bin Laden. An extremist group uses extreme ideas and actions to reach its goals. Al-Qaeda planned the attacks over several years. The hijackers were trained to fly airplanes and coordinated their actions carefully. Investigations later confirmed the group’s responsibility. The attacks shocked people around the world and received wide news coverage.

After the attacks, the United States government took many actions. Airports increased security, including stricter passenger checks and limits on items allowed on planes. The United States also began military operations in Afghanistan, where al-Qaeda was based at the time. These actions were part of what the government called the "War on Terror," a campaign aimed at stopping terrorist groups. New laws were passed to increase surveillance and security. Surveillance is the close watching of people or activities to prevent danger.

The September 11 attacks had long-lasting effects on the United States and other countries. Memorials were later built to honor the people who died. One major memorial stands at the site of the former World Trade Center. The date 11 September is remembered each year with ceremonies. The attacks changed how governments, airports, and security services operate and remain an important event in modern history.