On the morning of September 11, 2001, a series of four terrorist attacks were carried out near New York and Pennsylvania in the United States of America involving 19 hijackers gaining control of four planes, the complete destruction of the World Trade Centre complex and the partial damage to The Pentagon and the deaths of almost 3000 people. The catastrophic event has since then brought up many causes and extreme effects. Many motives were behind the attacks that were linked for the motivation for the event to befall. The effects of the attack have caused immense loss to many families, distressing and scarring victims and witnesses.
Categorized as a “global symbolic event”, there have been many motives and conspiracy theories that were discussed and addressed not only by citizens and the United States government, but also claimants of the attacks; al-Qaeda. The aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War oversaw maintained presence of thousands of American troops in Saudi Arabia. Many of the community and civilians felt disrespected and offended by their spectating in Mecca and Medina, which bore extensive religious significance according to Islamic faith. Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, mentioned this and the 1996 Khobar Tower bombings as motivations for 9/11. In 1996, he published a fatwa (a publicly expressed opinion ruling on an Islamic law authenticated by authority) calling for the troops from America to leave Saudi Arabia, accusing them of ruining the nature of the designated holy areas and uncomforting civilians.
The Age of Sacred Terror, written by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon, consider the attacks to be of religious sacrament by the terrorists. “…intended to restore to the universe a moral order that had been corrupted by the enemies of Islam.” Not of politic or strategical influence but rather intended as an act of redemption meant to punish individuals who defy their beliefs and deity.
Bin Laden’s “Letter to America”, written in 2002, criticised the United States’ support of Israel and states it as an additional motivation. “The expansion of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course, there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel.” Bin Laden repeats his condemns of the connection in his 2004 and 2010 statements, accusing the latter countries of being eager to destroy Iraq. He additionally states as “the strongest neighbouring Arab state,” in his 1998 fatwa, also mentioning America and Israel’s negotiations of support.
Osama bin Laden additionally stated the United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 as another motive for the attacks in his 1998 fatwa. Resolution 661 initiated economic sanctions in Iraq on August 6, 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. After the Gulf War and Iraq’s troop extraction from Kuwait, Resolution 687 linked the sanctions to the withdrawal of weapons of mass destruction. Also in the 1998 fatwa, al-Qaeda accuse the Americans of attempting to infiltrate a massacre. “…despite the number of (Iraqis) killed, which has exceeded 1 million… despite all this, the Americans are once against trying to repeat the horrific massacres, as though they are not content with the protracted blockade imposed after the ferocious war or the fragmentation and devastation…” Additionally calling for the killing of Americans as a duty to Islam. Bin Laden describes the sanctions as “the greatest mass slaughter of children mankind has ever known.”
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers, who were quickly identified, assumed control of two Boeing 757 and two Boeing 767 commercial flights. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 departed Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. American Airlines Flight 77 departed Washington Dulles International and United Airlines Flight 93 took off from Newark International. Flights AA11, UA175 and AA77 were en route to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and UA93 was to land in San Francisco International (SFO).
On 8:46am, AA11 was crashed faced north in the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, immediately killing and trapping an estimate of 1,355 people at or above the impact zone. 17 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into the southern face of the South Tower. One stairwell was left intact after the collision, which allowed numerous survivors to escape before its eventual collapse on 9:59am due to structural failure. American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37am. Fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93 was deliberately crashed near Pennsylvania on 10:03am, the only flight that never attacked its intended destination. Moments after the Pentagon collision, the Federal Aviation Association closed the United States airspace to all international flights, causing over 500 commercial flights to land immediately or return to their departing airports. Rumours speculated that the intended target was most likely the United States Capitol; this was confirmed by believed organizers of the attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin al-Shibh in an April 2002 interview. Due to the North Tower’s collapse on 10:28am, debris had fallen onto the 7 World Trade Centre building, causing subsequent fire and eventual collapse at 5:21pm.
The September 11 attacks were named the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Pearl Harbour on December 1941 and as of June 2017, the worst terrorist attack in world history. 2,977 casualties were caused along with the 19 hijackers and over 6,000 injuries. Over 2,500 were from New York City in or surrounding the site, 125 were killed in the Pentagon collision and including law enforcement personnel, firefighters and military personnel. Hundreds were exempt from evacuation upon collision as they deliberately fell or jumped to their deaths from the burning towers. Numerous other buildings near the site were horribly damaged or completely destroyed, including the Marriott Hotel (also known as 3 WTC) and the severe damages of the U.S. Customs House, the Deutsche Bank Building and the two buildings of the World Financial Centre.
Health issues had an extremely significant impact during and after the attacks. Masses of tons of toxic debris were spread across Lower Manhattan, caused by the collapse. The Environmental Protection Agency had issued air quality statements that had returned to levels before the attacks as late as June 2002. Approximately 18,000 civilians had developed illnesses due to the contaminated dust.
The attacks resulted in an extreme economic impact on the United States and other world markets. Stock Exchange closed hours after the attacks, reopening a week later. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 684 points to 8921, later dropping to a further 1,369 points by the end of the week. At the time, U.S. stocks had lost $1.4 trillion in valuation. Over 400,000 jobs surrounding New York City were lost, additionally resulting in a $2.8 billion wage loss.
Hate crimes and racial prejudice were abnormally high after the attacks. Assaults, shootings and targeted harassment were carried out towards Muslims and additionally South Asians due to a stereotypical association with Muslims for the turban headwear. Including a firebombing of a Hindu temple and the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh who was shot a few days following the attacks in Arizona.
As a result, the September 11 attacks are ultimately recognized as the worst terrorist attack in world history. Highlighting the deaths of almost 3,000 people, 6,000 injuries, an extreme economic foundering, security compromising and life-threatening health issues. As of March 2015, 1,113 victims have not yet been identified. The reconstruction of the World Trade Centre, as of today is still being carried out. 1 WTC began construction in 2006 and was officially opened in November 2014.