25 years ago, America faces ‘darkest hour’ as 9/11 terror attacks unfold – SCMP archive

What were the September 11, 2001, attacks?

The September 11, 2001, attacks were a coordinated terrorist assault against the United States. Nineteen al-Qaeda hijackers seized four commercial airplanes. Two planes hit New York’s World Trade Center towers. A third struck the Pentagon near Washington, DC. The fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers resisted. The attacks mattered because they caused enormous loss of life and changed American security and foreign policy.

The attackers used ordinary airliners as weapons. They took control after takeoff and redirected the planes toward symbolic targets. The World Trade Center represented American economic power. The Pentagon represented US military power. The article, published the next day, described the attacks as the nation’s most brutal terrorist assault.

The attacks led to lasting changes in airport screening, intelligence work, emergency planning, and military strategy. They also began a long US campaign against al-Qaeda and other extremist groups. Their effects still shape debates about security, civil liberties, and foreign intervention.

How many people were killed, how many planes were hijacked, and which major buildings were struck?

The September 11 attacks killed 2,977 victims, not counting the 19 hijackers. Four commercial passenger planes were hijacked. Two crashed into New York’s World Trade Center towers. A third struck the Pentagon, the US military headquarters near Washington, DC. The fourth crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The article reported the deaths of thousands and specifically described two planes destroying the World Trade Center and another hitting the Pentagon. The Pennsylvania crash happened after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. Investigators concluded that the plane was probably headed toward another important US target, although it never reached one.

The scale was unprecedented for a terrorist attack in the United States. Thousands died in New York, at the Pentagon, and aboard the planes. The destruction prompted a national emergency response and produced major changes in aviation security, intelligence sharing, and disaster planning.

Who planned and carried out the attacks?

Al-Qaeda, an extremist terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden, planned the September 11 attacks. Nineteen members carried them out by hijacking four commercial airplanes. The plot required recruitment, training, travel, financial support, communication, and detailed preparation. It was not the work of a lone attacker.

The hijackers divided into four teams. Each team seized one plane after takeoff. Trained pilots among them redirected the aircraft toward selected targets. Two planes hit the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon, and one crashed in Pennsylvania after resistance from passengers and crew. This coordination created simultaneous attacks across different locations.

The plot exposed failures in US intelligence sharing and aviation security. Afterward, investigators pursued al-Qaeda leaders, supporters, and networks worldwide. Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan in 2011. Al-Qaeda weakened, but other extremist organizations later adopted some of its methods and propaganda.

Why were New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon important targets?

New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon were important because they represented different forms of US power. The World Trade Center was a famous center of global business and finance. The Pentagon housed the US Department of Defense and symbolized the country’s military reach. Striking both sent a message far beyond the immediate physical damage.

The attackers used hijacked airliners to turn symbols into weapons. Hitting the towers created dramatic images seen worldwide. Striking the Pentagon showed that even a heavily protected national institution could be attacked. The article reported that two planes destroyed the World Trade Center and another hit the Pentagon, making these targets central to the public shock.

The attacks affected how governments protect symbolic buildings and critical infrastructure. Security planning now considers not only military threats but also civilian aircraft, public spaces, and coordinated assaults. The targets’ symbolic value helped al-Qaeda gain attention, while the consequences drew a powerful US response.

What happened to air travel, public safety, and US foreign policy after the attacks?

After September 11, air travel, public safety, and US foreign policy changed sharply. Airports introduced stricter screening, reinforced cockpit doors, tighter passenger checks, and expanded rules for baggage and identification. The attacks also increased attention to emergency communication, intelligence sharing, and protection of major public sites.

The immediate mechanism was national mobilization. US airspace closed temporarily, and agencies investigated how hijackers passed through existing systems. Congress created the Transportation Security Administration. The government also expanded surveillance and counterterrorism powers. In October 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban government for sheltering al-Qaeda. In 2003, it invaded Iraq, linking that war to broader security arguments despite Iraq’s lack of operational responsibility for 9/11.

These policies reduced some vulnerabilities but created lasting debates over privacy, detention, civilian casualties, and military intervention. The United States still maintains extensive aviation and counterterrorism systems. The attacks continue to influence how leaders balance public safety with civil liberties.

What political and historical tensions led al-Qaeda to target the United States?

Al-Qaeda’s campaign against the United States grew from several political and historical tensions. Bin Laden opposed US military forces stationed in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War. He also condemned US support for Israel, American influence in Muslim-majority countries, and US-backed governments in the Middle East. Al-Qaeda portrayed these issues as attacks on Muslims and used them to recruit followers.

The group turned political grievances into extremist violence. Its leaders framed the United States as a global enemy and argued that spectacular attacks could provoke a wider conflict. The September 11 targets fit that strategy: the World Trade Center represented economic power, while the Pentagon represented military power. These claims explained the organization’s propaganda, but they did not excuse murdering civilians.

The tensions reflected real disputes, yet al-Qaeda’s ideology was its own violent interpretation. After 2001, wars and occupation further intensified regional anger and extremist recruitment in some places. Understanding the background helps explain the group’s choices, but it must not confuse explanation with approval.

What is terrorism, and how can a relatively small group use violence to create fear and affect the policies of a powerful state?

Terrorism is the deliberate use or threat of violence against civilians or other targets to create fear and pursue political, ideological, or religious goals. Its power does not depend only on the number of attackers. It depends on the audience watching, the symbols chosen, and the pressure placed on leaders. The September 11 attacks showed how a small group could produce national and global consequences.

Al-Qaeda used four hijacked planes, but the intended audience was much larger than the planes’ passengers. The World Trade Center and Pentagon were highly visible symbols. Television coverage spread the images rapidly. Fear disrupted travel, markets, public routines, and confidence in government protection. Leaders then faced demands to act, often under intense public pressure.

A powerful state can respond with security measures, military force, intelligence operations, or new laws. Those responses may prevent attacks, but they can also create costs and controversy. Terrorism therefore seeks both immediate victims and wider political effects. Its influence comes from multiplying limited violence through fear and attention.

Key Facts:

📌 September 11 attacks occurred on September 11, 2001.

📌 Hijackers used four passenger planes as weapons.

📌 The attacks transformed US security and foreign policy.

📌 2,977 victims were killed, excluding the 19 hijackers.

📌 Four commercial passenger planes were hijacked.

📌 Targets included the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

📌 Al-Qaeda planned the September 11 attacks.