The September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York and The Pentagon changed the world.
On September 11, 2001, airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda members crashed into the Twin Towers in New York, and a third plane crashed into the Pentagon.
The attacks organized by Al Qaeda became a turning point in US domestic and foreign policy.
After the collapse of the World Trade Center, the US organizes a large-scale manhunt to find the leader of al-Qaeda – Osama bin Laden. They are offering $25 million, then $50 million as a reward for any information leading to his capture.
It all starts in the morning when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijack 4 passenger planes. The hijackers deliberately crash 2 of them into the 2 Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing the towers to collapse to their foundations in less than 2 hours.
Terrorists crash the third plane into the Pentagon - the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. A fourth plane crashed into an open field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after passengers resisted before the plane reached its destination in Washington. According to official statistics, the number of people killed in the attacks is 2,974 people, excluding the 19 terrorists. None of the passengers on the hijacked planes survived. The main part of the victims were civilians from 90 countries. Policemen, firefighters and other rescue workers also die.
The assassinations are one of the most large-scale and tragic events of the 21st century, which greatly affects the political, psychological and economic aspects of not only the USA, but also the whole world. Suspicion quickly fell on al-Qaeda, and in 2004 the group's leader, Osama bin Laden, who initially denied any involvement, claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Al Qaeda and Bin Laden point to American support for Israel, the presence of American military forces in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Iraq as motives for the attacks. In response to the attacks, the US launched a war on terror and invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, who were harboring al-Qaeda. Many countries around the world are stepping up security measures and introducing anti-terrorist legislation. In May 2011, Bin Laden was found and killed.
Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein has been overthrown in Iraq. The West deposed Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Syria is torn apart by civil war.
Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa has caused Europe to be flooded with a wave of refugees. The old continent also experienced a series of terrorist attacks that shook key cities such as Madrid, London, Paris, Brussels and others.