On September 11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks shook the United States. Four commercial airplanes were hijacked by extremists; three were deliberately crashed into iconic buildings—the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, went down in a field in rural Pennsylvania after courageous passengers attempted to retake control. The devastating events claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people and left thousands more injured.
Investigators swiftly determined that the attacks were orchestrated by al Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. All 19 hijackers involved in the operation had received training from the group, and bin Laden later publicly acknowledged his involvement in planning the attacks.
The 9/11 case became the largest and most complex investigation ever conducted by the FBI. In response, the Bureau dramatically reshaped its priorities—placing the prevention of terrorism at the forefront of its mission and adopting a more intelligence-centered, forward-looking approach to both national security and criminal threats.
On October 10, 2001, Osama bin Laden was officially named to the FBI’s newly created Most Wanted Terrorists List. The United States, together with allied nations, launched military operations in Afghanistan to dismantle al Qaeda and capture its leaders. Despite intensive efforts, bin Laden initially evaded arrest.
A breakthrough came in August 2010, when U.S. intelligence agencies tracked credible leads suggesting that bin Laden was hiding in a fortified compound in northern Pakistan. On May 2, 2011, under the directive of President Barack Obama, U.S. special forces carried out a covert operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
In his address to the nation, President Obama stated:
“Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has killed countless Muslims in many countries, including our own. His death should be welcomed by all who value peace and human dignity.”
