New Delhi: What happened in America on the morning of September 11, 2001, shook the entire world. Four passenger planes were captured and used for attacks. Two planes hit New York’s World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon, while the fourth fell in Pennsylvania. 2,977 people lost their lives that day. Even today, after 25 years, the memory of 9/11 remains fresh with the same pain in America every year. This time too, the families of the deceased in New York read out their names and paid tribute to them.
How did the attacks in New York begin?
At around 8:46 am the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. There was confusion regarding this for some time at that time. Then 17 minutes later the second plane hit the South Tower. After this no one had any doubt that a major terrorist attack had taken place on America.
Both towers caught fire. It became difficult for the people present in the upper floors to get out. The rescue team reached the spot, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. Shortly afterward, both buildings collapsed and the entire surrounding area was filled with dust and smoke.
What happened in the attack on the Pentagon and the fourth plane?
The third plane hit the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Defence Ministry, located near Washington. A part of the building was badly damaged and a large number of people died there too.
The fourth plane was United Airlines Flight 93. The passengers on the plane had received information about other attacks on their phones. After this some passengers tried to confront the hijackers. The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is believed that the attackers intended to target an important government building in Washington.
What was the number of people who lost their lives in 9/11?
A total of 2,977 people died in the attacks. These also included passengers and crew members on board the planes. The maximum number of people lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center. Hundreds of New York policemen, firefighters and other rescue workers were also killed.
Even after that day its effect did not end. Many people engaged in rescue and cleanup work at Ground Zero came in contact with toxic dust and smoke. In the years that followed, a large number of first responders and others developed 9/11-related illnesses.
Who had prepared the conspiracy of the attack?
According to US investigation, the 9/11 attacks were planned by Al-Qaeda. At that time the head of the organisation was Osama Bin Laden. A total of 19 terrorists had hijacked all four planes. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was said to have played an important role in planning the attack.
After this, America intensified the campaign against Al-Qaeda. US-led forces arrived in Afghanistan in October 2001. Osama bin Laden escaped from American agencies for almost ten years. Ultimately he was killed in 2011 during the American operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
How did America’s security system change after the attack?
After 9/11, airport and air travel security in America was made much stricter than before. Increased emphasis on sharing information between intelligence agencies. Preventing terrorism became a core part of US security policy.
In the US, the Department of Homeland Security was created and the Transportation Security Administration was established to be responsible for airport security. These changes also affected the air security systems of other countries.
How was it remembered in America on its 25th anniversary?
The dead were remembered at a memorial in New York on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The victims’ families read out their names. Silence was observed several times during the program to remember the time of the attack. Tributes were also paid to those who died from 9/11-related illnesses in the years that followed.
The site of the World Trade Center now houses the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The names of those killed in the attack are recorded here. One reason for remembering this incident after 25 years is that now there are a large number of people who had never seen that day of 2001. For them, 9/11 is history, but understanding its impact is still considered important.
