The attacks on the towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City defined an epoch. 14 years on, the incident is still fresh in the minds of many and still influences social sensibilities, art and culture, and foreign policy.
The Garter Press brings you 9 of the things you should know, and definitely not the the 2 things that you can never know, about 9/11.
- Four passenger airliners were hijacked by 19 members of al-Qaeda to be flown into buildings in suicide attacks. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.
- Within two hours, both 110-story towers collapsed with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the WTC complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures
- A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense), leading to a partial collapse in its western side.
- The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was targeted at Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers.
- Although the Al-Quaeda’s leader, Osama bin Laden, initially denied any involvement, in 2004, he claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives.
- 17 Unique Artworks were destroyed in the collapse of the twin towers.
- The attacks caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage
- 2,996 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes.
- [redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted]moved their investments out [redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted] insurance.
- [redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”]The melting temperature of steel[/redacted] is 2750°F but [redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”][/redacted][redacted length=”extra”]the burning temperature of jet engine fuel is at most 1500°F.[/redacted]
- Following the attacks, President Bush’s approval rating soared to 90%
