What Was Al Qaeda?

Extensive Bombings

Between 2006 to 2008, the Taliban were responsible for almost daily bombings throughout Afghanistan.

To Learn More: hrw.org/reports/2007 , hrw.org/reports/2007

Source: Human Rights Watch

Taliban Control

In 1996, the Taliban overthrew the Afghanistan government and gained control of the country. While ruling Afghanistan, the Taliban imposed harsh laws, destroyed historical structures, and took away human rights for many citizens.

To Learn More: pri.org/stories/2009,
rferl.org/a/afghanistan (CAUTION: Contains disturbing images)
aljazeera.com/news/asia

Source: The World, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Al Jazeera

Hijackers in Palm Beach County

12 of the 19 hijackers spent some time in various areas of Palm Beach County, Florida. Learn more about what they did in the area.

To Learn More: palmbeachpost.com/news/local

Source: Palm Beach Post

Hijackers Stay in Jacksonville, FL

Two of the hijackers spent time in Jacksonville, Florida. This article tracks their movements to a Ramada Inn, a gas station, and the downtown area.

To Learn More: wfmynews2.com/article/news

Source: WTLV

Hijackers’ Spiritual Document

Investigators found a handwritten document that each of the hijackers had left behind. The document included plans for the attacks and religious references.

To Learn More: wired.com/2001/09/spiritual-manual

Source: Wired

Hijackers Identified

This article describes how 18 of the 19 hijackers had been identified less than two weeks after the 9/11 attacks.

To Learn More: chicagotribune.com/sns-worldtrade

Source: LA Times

Ring Road

Ring Road connects the largest cities in Afghanistan, making it the most important road in the whole country. It was the cornerstone of rebuilding Afghanistan after the country was invaded. However, the project may never be finished.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch
medium.com/@annetdavid
afghanistan-analysts.org/en

Source: Medium

A Visit to Las Vegas

A number of the hijackers visited Las Vegas, Nevada, before 9/11. Although the trip has been investigated, no one really knows what the purpose of the visit was.

To Learn More: reviewjournal.com/news

Source: Las Vegas Review Journal

Stopping the 20th Hijacker

Jose Melendez-Perez was working with immigration when he encountered Mohamed al-Qahtani. He was suspicious and did not allow him to enter the country. Later, it was learned that al-Qahtani was supposed to be the fifth hijacker on Flight 93, and his absence may have allowed the passengers on that flight to successfully overcome the hijackers.

To Learn More: clickorlando.com/news/2018/09/12

Source: News6/Click Orlando

Where Are the Hijackers Buried?

Not surprisingly, the hijackers were not buried with the other occupants of the planes that they took control of and crashed. As of 2011, the FBI has continued to hold on to their remains.

To Learn More: newsweek.com/terror-remains

Source: Toledo Blade

Hijackers in Boston

Several of the hijackers spent time in the Boston area before boarding American Airlines Flight 175 and flying it into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Here’s what they did during those four nights before 9/11.

To Learn More: thecrimson.com/article/2011/9

Source: Harvard Crimson

Hijackers on Their Free Time

The hijackers lived and worked in the United States before 9/11. In this article, places the hijackers visited while living in Hollywood, Floridam are explored.

To Learn More: miamiherald.com/news/local

Source: Miami Herald

Memories of Flight Training

Rudi Dekkers, a flight instructor in Florida, taught two of the hijackers, Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi, how to fly. He knew nothing about what they were planning to do.

To Learn More: ctvnews.ca/world/flight-school

Source: CTV News

New Mexico Imam Radicalized

An imam named Anwar Al-Awlaki from New Mexico was radicalized by al Qaeda and provided help to the hijackers before 9/11.

To Learn More: theatlantic.com/international

Source: The Atlantic

Meet a Flight Instructor

Hijackers Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf Alhazmi sought out flight lessons in San Diego, California. Rick Garza gave them lessons, but ended up flunking them both.

To Learn More: sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle

Source: San Diego Tribune

Information On The Hijackers

The hijackers entered the United States with the intent to commit terrorist attacks. Learn more about each of them here.

To Learn More: dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news

Source: Daily Star

Mohamed Atta

Mohamed Atta was one of the chief hijackers. Learn more about his past, how he got involved in Al Qaeda, and what he did to train for the 9/11 attacks.

To Learn More: biography.com/mohamed-atta

Source: Biography/A&E Television Networks

Osama bin Laden in Hiding

Al-Qaeda first gained attention after they were linked to the 1998 bombings of two American embassies. The United States demanded that Osama bin Laden, who was thought to be hiding in Afghanistan, stand trial for the bombings, but they were denied by the Taliban regime.

To Learn More: cnn.com/2015/03/11/world/osama
history.com/this-day-in-history

Source: History.com, CNN

Al-Qaeda Is Born

Osama bin Laden, along with about fifteen others, formed the extremist group known as al-Qaeda—meaning “the base”—in 1988. Formed initially to continue the jihad against the USSR during the cold war, they also opposed any nation that they felt went against the principles of Islam. The photo above represents the flag used by al-Qaeda in the early 2000s.

To Learn More: britannica.com/topic/al-Qaeda

Source: Britannica.com

Hijackers Seen Before the Attack

Terrorist hijacker Mohammad Atta and another al Qaeda member were seen at Logan airport months before the attacks on 9/11. It is believed that they were taking video and photos to find potential weaknesses in the airport’s security measures.

To Learn More: wcvb.com/article/workers-claim

Source:WCVB News Center

Feds Race to Identify Hijackers

Quickly identifying the 9/11 hijackers was no easy task; it took many domestic and overseas agencies working tirelessly to put the pieces together.

To Learn More: abcnews.go.com/US/video

Source: ABC News

Who Recruited the 9/11 Hijackers

This article investigates Mohammad Haydar Zammar, the man who came forward to claim that he recruited the 9/11 hijackers. In it, Zammar goes into detail about each hijacker, his experiences with them, and Osama bin Laden.

To Learn More: washingtonpost.com/news/world/

Source: Washington Post

Hijacker Recordings

In this video, the call between the 9/11 hijackers and air traffic controllers can be heard, allowing insight into what was happening on the plane in the minutes before its collision with the World Trade Center.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch?v=R6VwI_H1GOk

Source: RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA/YouTube

Video of Osama bin Laden

This infamous video released be the Pentagon after the events of 9/11 shows al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden discussing their involvement in the terrorist attacks.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch

Source: YouTube

Identifying the 9/11 Hijackers

Former FBI agent Ali Soufan discusses how his interrogation of Osama bin Laden’s bodyguard led to the discovery of those responsible for the 9/11 hijackings.

To Learn More: cbsnews.com/ali-soufan

Source: CBS News

The Rise of Al Qaeda

Journalist Spoosh Alvi traces the origin of al Qaeda and how it grew from the events of the Cold War and America’s global political stance in the 1980s.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch

Source: YouTube

The Twenty Years’ War

This history of al-Qaeda explores the different phases it’s gone through since its formation, as well its involvement in 9/11 and the war on terror that resulted from it.

To Learn More: theatlantic.com/international/archive/

Source: The Atlantic

Terrorist Pilots Trained in Florida

In this video, the three pilots involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks are explored in detail, from the time they spent in America leading up to the attacks, to the pilot training they received in Florida that allowed them to carry out their plans.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch?v=sBEAmCG7upQ

Source: YouTube

9/11 Timeline

This timeline shows, in great detail, the events that lead to the horrific events of 9/11.

To Learn More: history.com/topics/21st-century/

Source: History.com

Osama bin Laden’s Inspiration

According to an al-Qaeda propaganda magazine, Osama bin Laden’s 9/11 attack plot was inspired by the EgyptAir Flight 990. Due to mechanical failures, the flight crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1999 killing all 217 passengers, half of whom were American.

To Learn More: independent.co.uk/news/world

Source: The Independent

Behind the 19 Hijackers

This video, which focuses on the 9/11 hijackers, discusses the days leading up to the attack and how their plot unfolded.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch?v=r7ZFMiXP1PM

Source: YouTube

Death of Osama bin Laden

President Barack Obama discusses the recent death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of an American Navy SEAL team, reflecting on the events of 9/11 and what it means for the nation to finally have justice.

To Learn More: youtube.com/watch

Source: The Obama White House YouTube Channel

Al-Qaeda Leader Calls for Attacks

In this 33-minute video, Al-Qaeda leader Al-Zawahri calls on Muslims to attack U.S. European, Israeli, and Russian facilities on the 18^th anniversary of 9/11. He stresses the importance of stopping the spread of “corruption” by specifically targeting the American military presence in the Middle East.