Editing Timeline of the September 11 attacks

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}

The following timeline is a chronological list of all the major events leading up to, during, and immediately following the [[September 11 attacks]] against the United States in 2001, through the [[First anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks|first anniversary]] of the attacks in 2002.

== Background history ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Day
!Month
!Year(s)
!Location
!Notes
|-
| -
| -
|1950
|[[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]] 
|[[Sayyid Qutb]] returns to [[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]] from a two-year visit to the [[United States]] sponsored by the [[Ministry of Education (Egypt)|Ministry of Education]], and joins the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] due to his disgust towards [[Western culture]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Law, Randall David |title=Terrorism : a history |date=September 26, 2016 |isbn=9780745690896 |edition=Second |location=Cambridge, UK |oclc=935783894}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|1951-1965
|
|Qutb writes the book ''[[Fi Zilal al-Quran]]'' while in prison for an [[assassination attempt]] against [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. The book claims that [[Israel]] and the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf]] are American [[satellite state]]s and calls for an [[Islamism|Islamist]] revolution against [[secularism]]—including [[Arab nationalism]], [[socialism]], and [[liberal democracy]]—to establish a Middle Eastern [[theocracy]] rooted in [[Sharia|sharia law]].<ref name=":5" /> The book also [[takfir|concludes]] that any Muslims who support secularism are ''[[kuffar]]''.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/761224415 |title=The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 |date=2011 |isbn=978-0-525-56436-2 |edition=First Vintage books edition, [revised] |location=New York |oclc=761224415}}</ref> The book becomes highly influential towards [[Islamic terrorism|Islamic terrorists]].<ref name=":5" />
|-
|5
|Aug
| rowspan="2" |1966
|[[Lower Manhattan]] in [[New York City]], [[United States]]
|Work is started on the original World Trade Center.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=History of the World Trade Center |url=https://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/history-wtc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607110234/https://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/history-wtc.html |archive-date=June 7, 2015 |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=www.panynj.gov}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|[[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]] 
|Sayyid Qutb is [[Capital punishment|executed]] in Egypt and his brother [[Muhammad Qutb]] flees to [[Saudi Arabia]], acquiring a teaching position at [[King Abdulaziz University]] in [[Jeddah]].
|-
| -
| -
|1973
|[[Lower Manhattan]] in [[New York City]], [[United States]]
|Work is completed on the original World Trade Center.<ref name=":3" />
|-
| -
| -
|1976
|Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
|[[Osama bin Laden]], son of Saudi billionaire businessman [[Mohammed bin Laden]], is [[Radicalization|radicalized]] by Qutb while attending [[King Abdulaziz University]] for [[business administration]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Osama bin Laden {{!}} Biography, al-Qaeda, Terrorist Attacks, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Osama-bin-Laden |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616235439/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Osama-bin-Laden |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" />
|-
| -
| -
|1979
|[[United States]]
|The United States first becomes concerned over [[Islamic extremism]] after the [[Iranian Revolution]], the [[Iran hostage crisis]], and the [[Grand Mosque seizure]].
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="2" |1980
|[[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]]
|Bin Laden completes University.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" />
|-
| -
| -
|[[Pakistan]]
|Bin Laden travels to [[Pakistan]] to volunteer and assist the [[Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen|Sunni Mujahideen]] during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]]. He will become increasingly radicalised over the course of his participation in the conflict.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Riedel |first=Bruce |title=Pakistan and Terror: The Eye of the Storm |publisher=[[American Academy of Political and Social Science]] |year=2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rashid |first=Ahmed |date=2001-09-13 |title=Osama Bin Laden: How the U.S. helped midwife a terrorist |url=http://publicintegrity.org/accountability/osama-bin-laden-how-the-u-s-helped-midwife-a-terrorist/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Center for Public Integrity |language=en-US |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206024124/https://publicintegrity.org/accountability/osama-bin-laden-how-the-u-s-helped-midwife-a-terrorist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|1981
|
|Bin Laden's future deputy [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], the leader of [[Jama At al-Jihad]], is arrested for his role in the [[assassination of Anwar Sadat]] and imprisoned for three years.<ref name=":5" />
|-
| -
| -
|1983
|[[United States Marine Corps]] [[barracks]], [[Beirut Airport]]
'Drakkar' barracks of French [[1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment]] and [[9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment]], Ramlet al Baida, [[Beirut]]
|The [[1983 Beirut barracks bombings]] targeting the [[Multinational Force in Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] provides inspiration for Bin Laden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=September 11 attacks {{!}} Facts & Information |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |archive-date=October 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012044436/https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
|Oct
|1984
|[[Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992)|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]] and [[Pakistan]]
|Bin Laden cofounds a network, the [[Maktab al-Khidamat]], with [[Abdullah Yusuf Azzam]] in Afghanistan and [[Pakistan]] to recruit Muslims for the Afghan resistance.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":10">Farrall, Leah. “Revisiting Al-Qaida’s Foundation and Early History.” ''Perspectives on Terrorism'', vol. 11, no. 6, 2017, pp. 17–37. ''JSTOR'', www.jstor.org/stable/26295954. Accessed 14 June 2021.</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|1986
|[[Afghanistan|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|Bin Laden travels to Afghanistan to lead MAK forces in combat.<ref name=":10" />
|-
| -
|Feb
| rowspan="3" |1987
|[[Afghanistan|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|Al-Qaeda establishes its first [[Afghan training camp|training camps]] in Afghanistan.<ref name=":10" />
|-
|25
|May
|[[Paktia Province]], [[Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992)|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|Bin Laden withstands a Soviet attack during the [[Battle of Jaji]], establishing his reputation in the Arab world.<ref name=":10" />
|-
|8
|Dec
|[[Israel]] and [[Palestinian territories|Occupied Palestinian Territory]]
|The [[First Intifada]] begins in [[Palestinian territories|Palestine]]. Bin Laden expresses vocal support for the conflict, and begins to advocate in favor of [[jihad]] against the West.<ref name=":7">Atkins, Stephen E. "Bin Laden, Osama (1957–)." In ''The 9/11 Encyclopedia'', 34-40. Praeger Security International. Vol. 1. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International, 2008. ''Gale eBooks'' (accessed April 2, 2020).</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite book |title=The Oxford companion to American politics |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |others=Coates, David, 1946- |isbn=978-0-19-976432-7 |location=New York |oclc=819762142}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|1988
|
|[[Osama bin Laden]] forms a [[Database|computer database]] of Islamist militants, founding [[al-Qaeda]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2003 |title=Al Qaeda Financing Documents Turn Up in Bosnia Raid |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/al-qaeda-financing-documents-turn-up-in-bosnia-raid |access-date=April 22, 2019 |work=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422214624/https://www.foxnews.com/story/al-qaeda-financing-documents-turn-up-in-bosnia-raid |url-status=live }}</ref> He declares that Muslims must protect the [[Holiest sites in Islam|holy sites]] of [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] from foreign control as a religious duty.<ref name=":8" />
|-
|15
|Feb
| rowspan="5" |1989
|[[Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992)|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|The [[Soviet Army]] completes its [[Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan|withdrawal from Afghanistan]], and bin Laden advocates transforming al-Qaeda into a global network to fund jihad. Azzam prefers to focus on the [[Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)|Afghan Civil War]] and the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Al Qaeda: Facts About the Terrorist Network and Its History of Attacks |url=https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/al-qaeda |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=HISTORY |language=en |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331042604/https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/al-qaeda |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" />
|-
| -
|May-June
|[[Jalalabad]], [[Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992)|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|Al-Qaeda forces are badly defeated by the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan#Military|Afghan National Army]] in the [[Battle of Jalalabad (1989)|Battle of Jalalabad]], leading to a drop in membership and reorientation of tactics.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" />
|-
|30
|Jun
|[[Sudan]], [[North Africa]]
|[[Omar al-Bashir]] and [[Hassan Al-Turabi]]'s [[National Islamic Front]] seize control of Sudan in a [[1989 Sudanese coup d'état|coup d'état]]. Al-Turabi would invite bin Laden to stay in the country.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch2.htm |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=govinfo.library.unt.edu |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515183448/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report_Ch2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| rowspan="2" |Nov
|[[Saudi Arabia]] 
|Bin Laden returns to Saudi Arabia and Prince [[Turki bin Faisal Al Saud|Turki bin Faisal]] rejects his offer to send al-Qaeda to overthrow the Communist government in [[South Yemen]].<ref name=":9" />
|-
|24
|[[Peshawar]], Pakistan
|Azzam is assassinated in a car bombing, allowing bin Laden to dominate the organization.<ref name=":11" />
|-
|22
|May
| rowspan="4" |1990
|[[South Yemen|South]] and [[Yemen Arab Republic|North Yemen]]
|The governments of South and [[Yemen Arab Republic|North Yemen]] merge into the unified [[Yemen|Republic of Yemen]]. Bin Laden runs afoul of the [[Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia)|Saudi Interior Ministry]] for attempting to violently disrupt the [[Yemeni unification|unification process]].<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2
|Aug
|[[Kuwait]], [[West Africa]]
|[[Ba'athist Iraq]] [[Invasion of Kuwait|invades]] and annexes [[Kuwait]]. Fearing an Iraqi threat to [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Province]] oilfields, [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|King Fahd]] rapidly accepts American military assistance to the opposition of Bin Laden.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission to Jeddah |url=https://mei.edu/publications/mission-jeddah |access-date=2021-06-14 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614185313/https://mei.edu/publications/mission-jeddah |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
|Sept
|
|Bin Laden makes an offer to [[Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] to defend [[Saudi Arabia]] from [[Ba'athist Iraq]] with 100,000 fighters after the [[Invasion of Kuwait|Iraqi invasion of Kuwait]]. He is turned down, and becomes embittered by the intervention of non-Islamic troops from the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|U.S.-led international coalition]] in the [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Greenblatt |first1=Alan |date=February 24, 2011 |title=Twenty Years Later, First Iraq War Still Resonates |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/02/24/133991181/twenty-years-later-first-iraq-war-still-resonates |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=NPR |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330214351/https://www.npr.org/2011/02/24/133991181/twenty-years-later-first-iraq-war-still-resonates |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" />
|-
|5
|Nov
|[[New York Marriott East Side]], [[Midtown Manhattan]], New York City
|[[El Sayyid Nosair]] commits the [[assassination of Meir Kahane]] at the [[New York Marriott East Side]], one of the first Islamist terrorist attacks in the United States. The FBI subsequently finds documents linking the attack to al-Qaeda, making it the organization's first involvement in attacks in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-09 |title=MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base |url=http://www.tkb.org/CaseHome.jsp?caseid=332 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109221029/http://www.tkb.org/CaseHome.jsp?caseid=332 |archive-date=2008-01-09 |access-date=2021-06-14}}</ref>
|-
| -
|Apr
|1991
|[[Sudan]], [[East Africa]]
|Bin Laden moves to Sudan and begins expanding al-Qaeda using legitimate businesses as [[front organization]]s.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |title=Who Is Bin Laden? - Chronology - Hunting for bin Laden |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/etc/cron.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=FRONTLINE |language=en |archive-date=February 10, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210192537/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/etc/cron.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="3" |1992
|[[Arabian Peninsula]] and [[Horn of Africa]]
|Bin Laden begins to target U.S. military forces in the [[Arabian Peninsula]] and the [[Horn of Africa]], as well as to consider alliances with [[Shia Islam|Shiite]] [[Iran]]ian-backed organizations such as [[Hezbollah]].<ref name=":12" />
|-
|27
|Apr
|[[Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992)|Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)]]
|The [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] collapses after [[Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin]] seizes [[Kabul]], but a [[Afghan Civil War (1992–1996)|new stage of civil war]] begins when the [[Peshawar Accord]]s collapse.
|-
|29
|Dec
|[[Aden]], [[Yemen]], [[West Africa]]
|Al-Qaeda attacks U.S. military forces for the first time in the [[1992 Yemen hotel bombings|Yemen hotel bombings]] in [[Aden]].
|-
|26
|Feb
| rowspan="2" |1993
|[[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|[[Ramzi Yousef]] carries out the [[1993 World Trade Center bombing]].
|-
|3-4
|Oct
|[[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]], [[Horn of Africa]]
|18 American servicemen are killed by al-Qaeda-trained forces in the [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]].<ref name=":12" />
|-
|9
|Apr
| rowspan="3" |1994
|
|Bin Laden's [[Saudi Arabian nationality law|Saudi citizenship]] is revoked.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":12" />
|-
| -
|Sept
|[[Kandahar]], [[Kandahar Province]], [[Islamic State of Afghanistan]]
|[[Mullah Omar|Mohammed Omar]] founds the [[Taliban]] in [[Kandahar]].
|-
|24-26
|Dec
|[[Houari Boumediene Airport]], [[Algiers]], [[Algeria]] and [[Marseille Provence Airport]], [[Marseille]], [[France]]
|[[Armed Islamic Group of Algeria]] militants attempt to crash [[Air France Flight 8969]] into the [[Eiffel Tower]], influencing al-Qaeda's future planning.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wald |first=Matthew L. |date=October 3, 2001 |title=A NATION CHALLENGED: WARNINGS; Earlier Hijackings Offered Signals That Were Missed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/03/us/a-nation-challenged-warnings-earlier-hijackings-offered-signals-that-were-missed.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820155638/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/03/us/a-nation-challenged-warnings-earlier-hijackings-offered-signals-that-were-missed.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|6
|Jan
| rowspan="3" |1995
|Doña Josefa apartments  in [[Manila, Philippines]],
|[[Operation Bojinka]], a planned terrorist attack, is discovered by the Filipino police in [[Manila]] on a laptop computer in an apartment after a fire.
|-
|7
|Feb
|[[Pakistan]]
|Ramzi Yousef is arrested in Pakistan, and is discovered to have financial links to Bin Laden.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":9" />
|-
| -
|Jun
|
|U.S. intelligence links al-Qaeda to an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Egyptian President [[Hosni Mubarak]] in [[Addis Ababa]], [[Ethiopia]].<ref name=":12" />
|-
|8
|Jan
| rowspan="7" |1996
|
|As Bin Laden makes bellicose statements regarding United States and Saudi Arabia. [[Michael Scheuer]] creates a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] unit, the [[Bin Laden Issue Station]], to gather intelligence on Bin Laden.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" />
|-
|18
|May
|[[Islamic State of Afghanistan]]
|Heading from Africa to Asia, Bin Laden moves to Afghanistan providing him a safe haven for al-Qaeda activities.<ref name=":9" />
|-
|25
|Jun
|Khobar Towers, [[Khobar]], [[Saudi Arabia]]
|Al-Qaeda commits the [[Khobar Towers bombing]] targeting American servicemen in Saudi Arabia to participate in [[Operation Southern Watch]].
|-
|23
|Aug
|
|Bin Ladin issues a ''[[fatwa]]'' declaring war on the United States, which is published in the [[Arabic|Arabic-language]] [[newspaper]] ''[[Al-Quds Al-Arabi]]'' in [[London]].<ref>Springer, Paul J. "Osama bin Laden’s Declaration of War upon the United States." ''9/11 and the War on Terror'': ''A Documentary and Reference Guide'', Greenwood, 2016, pp. 27-33. Documentary and Reference Guides. ''Gale eBooks'', https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX7121300016/GVRL?u=umuser&sid=GVRL&xid=c6ab7bde . Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.</ref> The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and the [[United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York|U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York]] open a criminal file on him under the charge of [[seditious conspiracy]].<ref name=":9" />
|-
|27
|Sept
|[[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]
|The [[Taliban]], a radical [[Islam]]ic movement, [[Taliban's rise to power#Emergence in Afghanistan|rises to power]] by [[Battle of Kabul (1992–1996)|conquering Kabul]] and declares the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]].
|-
| -
| rowspan="2" |Nov
|
|Informant [[Jamal al-Fadl]] reveals the existence of al-Qaeda to the FBI.<ref name=":9" />
|-
|23
|[[Grande Comore]], Comoros
|Attackers hijack [[Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961]] and most of the passengers die in the resulting crash landing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hijacking Survivors Recount Terror |url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/911timeline/1990s/nyt112596.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=s3.amazonaws.com |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407084554/http://s3.amazonaws.com/911timeline/1990s/nyt112596.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="7" |1998
|
|An embassy bombing suspect claims that an 'extensive network of al-Qaeda sleeper agents' is planning a 'big attack' inside the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hirschkorn |first=Phil |date=January 19, 2001 |title=Embassy Bombing Defendant Says He Warned of Yemen Attack |url=http://premium.europe.cnn.com/2001/LAW/01/18/embassy.bombing.trial/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224023636/http://premium.europe.cnn.com/2001/LAW/01/18/embassy.bombing.trial/ |archive-date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=CNN}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|[[Hamburg]], [[Germany]]
|9/11 hijacker [[Mohamed Atta]] and associates are monitored some by US and [[Germany]] in their [[Hamburg]] apartment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2002 |title=Newsday.com - A Perfect Soldier |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-012702atta.story |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603092514/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/la-012702atta.story |archive-date=June 3, 2002 |access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=This Article Was Reported By Douglas Frantz, Don Van Natta Jr, David |last2=Bernstein |first2=Richard |last3=Bernstein |first3=Was Written By Mr |date=September 10, 2002 |title=THREATS AND RESPONSES: PIECES OF A PUZZLE; On Plotters' Path to U.S., A Stop at bin Laden Camp |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/10/national/10PLOT.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512010444/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/10/national/10PLOT.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Erlanger |first=Steven |date=September 15, 2001 |title=AFTER THE ATTACKS: THE INVESTIGATION; An Unobtrusive Man's Odyssey: Polite Student to Suicide Hijacker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/15/international/15GERM.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513182845/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/15/international/15GERM.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Germany |first=SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg |date=August 29, 2011 |title=On the Trail of Said Bahaji: 9/11 Conspirator Reported to Be Living in Pakistan - SPIEGEL ONLINE - International |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-trail-of-said-bahaji-9-11-conspirator-reported-to-be-living-in-pakistan-a-783097.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |newspaper=Der Spiegel |archive-date=March 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313202256/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-trail-of-said-bahaji-9-11-conspirator-reported-to-be-living-in-pakistan-a-783097.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=John Crewdson and Cam |title=Real clues to plot have been elusive |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0209050279sep05,0,5055267.story |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=chicagotribune.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421192509/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0209050279sep05,0,5055267.story |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Burrough |first=Ned Zeman, David Wise, David Rose, and Bryan |title=The Path to 9/11 |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2004/11/path-to-9-11-200411 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The Hive |language=en |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009064540/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2004/11/path-to-9-11-200411 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2002 |title=Real Cities.com {{!}} September 9, 2002 {{!}} Terrorists' Sep 11 plot a many-tentacled creature |url=http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/special_packages/attack_on_america/4020169.htm |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021019214757/http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/special_packages/attack_on_america/4020169.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2002 |access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Berlin |first=Special investigation by Toby Helm in |title=German secret service 'failed to act on terrorist warnings' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1363359/German-secret-service-failed-to-act-on-terrorist-warnings.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=Telegraph.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820185415/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1363359/German-secret-service-failed-to-act-on-terrorist-warnings.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{excessive citations inline|date=May 2025}}
|-
| -
|Feb
|
|Bin Laden expands religious edict against US and allies by issuing a second fatwa calling on Muslims to join a jihad against Jews and Christians until the United States and Israel evacuate the Middle East, and reiterates the themes in a televised interview with [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]].<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":4" />
|-
|8
|Jun
|
|A U.S. grand jury delivers a sealed indictment of bin Laden for "conspiracy to attack defense utilities of the United States."<ref name=":12" />
|-
|7
| rowspan="3" |Aug
|[[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]] and [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Tanzania]]
|The [[1998 U.S. embassy bombings]] in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]] bring al-Qaeda to US public attention for the first time.
|-
|8-10 
|[[Mazar-i-Sharif]], [[Balkh]], [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]
|In [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], the Taliban and Al Qaeda's [[055 Brigade]] [[Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif (1997–98)#Recapture and massacre (August 1998)|massacre between 4,000 and 8,000 people]], including [[1998 killing of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan|11 Iranian diplomats]]. Iran threatens to intervene, but relents after mediation by the United Nations.
|-
|20 
|[[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]
|[[Operation Infinite Reach]], U.S. [[cruise missile]] strikes an Al-Qaeda training camp in [[Khost]], Afghanistan, in retaliation of Al-Qaeda's U.S. embassy bombings two weeks earlier.
|-
|8 
| rowspan="3" |Oct
| rowspan="5" |1999
|[[United States]]
|Al-Qaeda is designated as a [[Foreign Terrorist Organisation]] by the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations |url=https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ |access-date=2020-04-02 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US |archive-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227062101/https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of military science |date=July 24, 2013 |others=Piehler, G. Kurt,, Johnson, M. Houston, V. |isbn=978-1-4522-7632-8 |location=Thousand Oaks, California |pages=91 |oclc=855731851}}</ref> The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] instructs airlines to maintain "a high degree of alertness" against the organization.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Research |first=CNN Editorial |date=July 27, 2013 |title=September 11 Warning Signs Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11th-warning-signs-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=2022-01-11 |website=CNN |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111203959/https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11th-warning-signs-fast-facts/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|15 
|[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]
|The [[United Nations Security Council]] passes a resolution demanding that the Taliban extradite Bin Ladin.
|-
|31 
|[[Atlantic Ocean]], 100 km (62 mi; 54 nmi) south of [[Nantucket]]
|Suicide pilot crashes [[EgyptAir Flight 990]] into the ocean.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Langewiesche |first=William |title=The Crash of EgyptAir 990 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2001/11/langewiesche.htm |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The Atlantic |language=en-US |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829213042/http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2001/11/langewiesche.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
|Nov-Dec
|
|The [[2000 millennium attack plots]] for bombings in [[Jordan]] and [[Los Angeles International Airport]] are discovered and prevented.
|-
| -
|Dec
|Hijacked in Indian [[airspace]] between [[Kathmandu]], [[Nepal]] and [[Delhi]], India; landed at [[Amritsar]], India; [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]]; [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]; and [[Kandahar]], Afghanistan.
|[[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] hijacked. One passenger dies while the others are released.
|-
|12 
|Oct
|2000
|[[Yemen]], [[West Africa]]
|The [[USS Cole (DDG-67)|USS ''Cole'']] is bombed in [[Yemen]] by Al-Qaeda.
|-
|10 
|Jul
| rowspan="4" |2001
|
|FBI Agent Kenneth Williams writes a memo warning that [[al-Qaeda]] members are training at flight schools in the United States, and CIA Director [[George Tenet]] briefs officials such as National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]].<ref name=":13" />
|-
|6 
|Aug
|
|President George W. Bush receives the [[President's Daily Brief]] ''[[Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US]]'' warning of an imminent attack on the United States by al-Qaeda.<ref>Springer, Paul J. "President’s Daily Brief from Central Intelligence Agency." ''9/11 and the War on Terror'': ''A Documentary and Reference Guide'', Greenwood, 2016, pp. 77-79. Documentary and Reference Guides. ''Gale eBooks'', https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX7121300031/GVRL?u=umuser&sid=GVRL&xid=572c5959 . Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.</ref>
|-
|4
| rowspan="2" |Sept
|
|The [[United States National Security Council]] prepares a $200 million plan to aid opponents of the [[Taliban]] in the [[Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)|Afghan Civil War]], but it is not presented to President Bush.<ref name=":13" />
|-
|9
|[[Khwaja Bahauddin District|Khwājah Bahā ud Dīn]] (Khvājeh Bahāuḏḏīn), [[Takhar Province]] in northeastern Afghanistan
|[[Assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud|Al-Qaeda assassinates Ahmad Shah Massoud]], commander of the [[Northern Alliance]].
|}

== Planning ==
{{main|Planning of the September 11 attacks}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Day
!Month
!Year(s)
!Location
!Notes
|-
| -
| -
|1992
|Germany 
|[[Mohamed Atta]] arrives in Germany.
|-
| -
| -
|1994
|[[Philippines]]
|Planning on [[Operation Bojinka]] begins.
|-
| -
| -
|1995
| rowspan="4" |Germany
|Operation Bojinka foiled, [[Said Bahaji]] and [[Ramzi bin al-Shibh]] arrive in Germany.
|-
| -
| -
|1996
|[[Marwan al-Shehhi]] and [[Ziad Jarrah]] arrive in Germany.
|-
| -
| -
|1997
|[[Zakariyah Essabar]] arrives in Germany.
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="2" |1998
|Recruitment of terrorists in Germany starts.
|-
| -
| -
|United States
|[[Bill Clinton]] warned 'bin Laden preparing to hijack US aircraft' inside US.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 Memo Cited Suspected Hijack Plot by Bin Laden (washingtonpost.com) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58615-2004Jul17.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=www.washingtonpost.com |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023104434/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58615-2004Jul17.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="11" |1999
|Hamburg, Germany
|[[Hamburg cell]] is fully formed.
|-
| -
| -
| rowspan="2" |Germany
|German authorities monitors call to 9/11 hijacker al-Shehhi, shares information with [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Risen |first1=James |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Eric |date=February 24, 2004 |title=C.I.A. WAS GIVEN DATA ON HIJACKER LONG BEFORE 9/11 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/24TERR.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616021728/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/24TERR.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|Germans monitor call mentioning key al-Qaeda [[Hamburg cell]] members, including 9/11 hijacker Atta's full name and number.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Desmond |date=January 18, 2003 |title=THREATS AND RESPONSES: INTELLIGENCE; Germans Were Tracking Sept. 11 Conspirators as Early as 1998, Documents Disclose |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/18/international/europe/18HAMB.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529133921/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/18/international/europe/18HAMB.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|
|9/11 hijacker Jarrah has unofficial wedding; photograph later suggests [[Federal Intelligence Service|German intelligence]] has informant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Man in the Mosque |url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/911timeline/2003/faz020203.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=s3.amazonaws.com |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329020002/http://s3.amazonaws.com/911timeline/2003/faz020203.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|
|Three 9/11 hijackers obtain [[Visa policy of the United States|US visas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=9/11 and Terrorist Travel: Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States |url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_statements/911_TerrTrav_Monograph.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923223220/http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_statements/911_TerrTrav_Monograph.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2004}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|
|[[Hani Hanjour]] obtains [[Pilot licensing and certification|pilot's license]] despite dubious skills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airman Records for Alleged 9/11 Hijacker Hani Hanjour {{!}} Flight Instructor {{!}} Substance Abuse |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/13120915/Airman-Records-for-Alleged-911-Hijacker-Hani-Hanjour |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=Scribd |language=en |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313125619/http://www.scribd.com/doc/13120915/Airman-Records-for-Alleged-911-Hijacker-Hani-Hanjour |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=FAA contractors approved flight licenses for Sept. 11 suspect |url=http://govexec.com/dailyfed/0602/061302m1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229040812/http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0602/061302m1.htm |archive-date=December 29, 2011 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=Government Executive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2006 |title=Report: 9/11 Hijacker Bypassed FAA |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91553&page=1 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |website=ABC News |archive-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820155838/http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91553&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=FAA Was Alerted To Sept. 11 Hijacker |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faa-was-alerted-to-sept-11-hijacker/ |access-date=August 20, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424204738/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/10/attack/main508656.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|Germany
|German intelligence records calls between 9/11 hijacker al-Shehhi and others linked to al-Qaeda.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
|-
| -
| -
|
|Saudi ambassador's wife gives funds that are possibly passed to 9/11 hijackers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=November 24, 2002 |title=Mystery men link Saudi intelligence to Sept 11 hijackers |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,846881,00.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821082622/http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,846881,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|United States
|President Clinton warned about al-Qaeda operatives living in US.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2004 |title=The 9/11 Commission Report |url=http://www.decloah.com/mirrors/9-11/911_Report.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020144854/http://www.decloah.com/mirrors/9-11/911_Report.txt |archive-date=October 20, 2004 |access-date=2023-05-19 |lang=en |type=TXT}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|
|Watch list importance is stressed but procedures are not followed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2004 |title=KR Washington Bureau {{!}} January 27, 2004 {{!}} 9 hijackers were considered security risks, Sep 11 panel reveals |url=http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7810321.htm |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040213022411/http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7810321.htm |archive-date=February 13, 2004 |access-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gerth |first=Jeff |date=May 15, 2003 |title=AFTEREFFECTS: INTELLIGENCE; C.I.A. Chief Won't Name Officials Who Failed to Add Hijackers to Watch List |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/15/international/worldspecial/15INTE.html |access-date=August 20, 2017 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531154331/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/15/international/worldspecial/15INTE.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
|United States
|NSA tells CIA about planned al-Qaeda summit involving future hijackers.
|-
| -
| -
|2000
|Malaysia and United States
|[[2000 al-Qaeda Summit]] in [[Malaysia]], pilots head to the United States and attend [[Flight training|flight training schools]].
|-
| -
| -
|2001
|United States
|Remaining hijackers go to the United States, [[Zacarias Moussaoui]] goes to the United States and is arrested, other cell members flee Germany.
|}

==September 11, 2001==
{{Main|Timeline for the day of the September 11 attacks}}

All times are in local time ([[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]] or [[UTC]]−4).
{| class="wikitable"
!Time (a.m)
H:M:
!Location
!Notes
|-
| '''7:59'''
|[[Logan International Airport]], [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] 
|[[American Airlines Flight 11]] takes off from Boston Logan, bound for Los Angeles.
|-
|'''8:14'''
|[[Logan International Airport]], [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 175]] takes off from Boston Logan, also bound for Los Angeles.
|-
| '''8:14–8:18'''

|United States airspace
|Flight 11 is hijacked.
|-
|'''8:20'''
|[[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[Dulles, Virginia]]
|[[American Airlines Flight 77]] takes off from [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], also bound for Los Angeles.
|-
|'''8:42'''
|[[Newark International Airport]], [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] and [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]], [[New Jersey]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 93]] takes off from [[Newark International Airport]], bound for [[San Francisco International Airport]].
|-
|'''8:42–8:46'''
|United States airspace
|Flight 175 is hijacked.
|-
|'''8:46:40'''
|[[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|North Tower, World Trade Center]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] 
|Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center between the 93rd and 99th floors.
|-
|'''8:50–8:54'''
|United States airspace
|Flight 77 is hijacked.
|-
|'''9:03:02'''<ref>(2019) https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/timeline-of-how-the-tragic-events-unfolded-on-sept-11-2001.html. Retrieved September 10, 2019</ref>
|[[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|South Tower, World Trade Center]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] 
|Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between the 77th and 85th floors.
|-
|'''9:28'''
|United States airspace
|Flight 93 is hijacked.
|-
|'''9:37:46''' 
|[[The Pentagon]], [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]], [[Virginia]]
|Flight 77 crashes into [[The Pentagon]].
|-
|'''9:59:00'''
|[[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|South Tower, World Trade Center]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] 
|The South Tower [[Collapse of the World Trade Center|collapses]].
|-
|'''10:03:11''' 
|[[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]]
|Flight 93 crashes into a field in [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timeline Flight 93: September 11, 2001 |url=http://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/upload/Timeline_flight_93.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913101051/http://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/upload/Timeline_flight_93.pdf |archive-date=September 13, 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2015 |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior}}</ref>
|-
|'''10:28:25'''
|[[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|North Tower, World Trade Center]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] 
|The North Tower [[Collapse of the World Trade Center|collapses]].
|}

== Rest of September ==
{{Main|Timeline for September following the September 11 attacks}}
* '''September 13''': On the personal orders of [[Queen Elizabeth II]], The "[[Star-Spangled Banner]]" is played during the [[Guard mounting|Changing of the Guard]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] in London, marking the first time a foreign [[national anthem]] is played outside [[Buckingham Palace]] on an occasion other than a [[state visit]]. [[Russia]] observes a [[Moment of silence|minute's silence]]. {{Further|Memorials and services for the September 11 attacks}}
* '''September 14''' to '''September 21''': Worldwide [[stock market]]s plummet. {{Further|Economic effects of the September 11 attacks}}
* '''September 15''': [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA director]] [[George Tenet]] presents the Worldwide Attack Matrix.
* '''September 20''': [[George W. Bush]] announces that the US is at war. {{Further|U.S. government response to the September 11 attacks}}

== October ==
{{Main|Timeline for October following the September 11 attacks}}
* '''October 1''': [[Rudy Giuliani]] speaks to the [[United Nations General Assembly]].
* '''October 7''': [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S. attack on Afghanistan]] commences.

== Beyond October ==
{{Main|Timeline beyond October following the September 11 attacks}}

* '''March 2002''': The ''[[Tribute in Light]]'' project begins.
* '''September 11, 2002''': [[First anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks]] commemorations are held throughout the world, particularly the U.S.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050303093504/http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/project.jsp?project=911_project "Complete 911 Timeline"]—Provided by the [[Paul Thompson (researcher)|Center for Cooperative Research]].
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110926211507/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2001/09/27/spin/index.html White House whitewashers]" (written September 27, 2001)
* "[http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/11/attack.closings/ Attacks prompt widespread closings]" (written September 11, 2001)
* Barter, Sheila, "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1540044.stm How the World Trade Center fell]". [[BBC News]]

{{World Trade Center}}
{{Sept11|state=expanded}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline Of The September 11 Attacks}}
[[Category:Timelines of the September 11 attacks| ]]

[[zh:九一一袭击事件#911当天大事记]]