What happened on 9/11, 19 years ago today

19 years ago today, the United States witnessed what was described as the “worst and most audacious terror attack in American history.” Called as the 9/11 terror attacks, it was a series of four planned suicide attacks by the terrorist group al-Qaeda, which killed nearly 3,000 people and injured over 6,000.

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“What started as a normal, beautiful, blue sky kind of a day spiralled into a day of death and chaos that would almost feel like it would never end,” said filmmaker Gédéon Naudet, who captured the only clear footage of the first jet, American Airlines Flight 11, hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center

Here is what happened:

• On September 11, 2001, 19 militants who were associated with the terrorist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks.

• Between 8-9 am, Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center complex in Manhattan.

• At 9.37 am, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C.

• The fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

• Within two hours of striking, both the 110-storey World Trade Centre towers collapsed.

The attacks triggered the major US initiatives to combat terrorism and defined the presidency of George W. Bush who declared a ‘War on Terrorism’. Subsequently, on December 13, 2001, the US government released a tape in which Osama bin Laden took the responsibility for the attacks. 10 years later, Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces.

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13 years after the attack, in 2014, the US rebuilt the World Trade Center complex- with three skyscrapers, a transportation hub, a museum and a memorial.

Now, a Tribute in Light marks the area where the Twin towers stood. It has become an iconic symbol that both honours those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York.