Casualties: Nearly 3,000 people died, and thousands more were injured.
Impact: Led to significant changes in global anti-terrorism strategies.
FBI Investigation: PENTTBOM
Codename: PENTTBOM (Pennsylvania, Pentagon, and Twin Towers Bombing)
Scale: Largest FBI case ever with over half of FBI agents involved.
Objective: Identify hijackers and sponsors, prevent future attacks.
Leads: Over 500,000 investigative leads, including public tips.
Crime Scene: Largest in FBI history.
Timeline of Events
8:46 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Hijacked Planes:
Three planes crashed into significant buildings: the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania.
Casualties: 2,976 people killed.
Health Effects: First responders face ongoing health issues from site conditions.
FBI's Immediate Response
Strategic Information and Operations Center: Activated within minutes.
Command Posts: Established for each crash site by the end of September 11.
Witness and Clue Tracking: Conducted globally with international partners.
Identification of 19 Terrorists: Achieved within hours.
Notable FBI Roles and Contributions
Command Center: Out of FBI Headquarters, managed by Director Robert S. Mueller, III.
Core Investigative Team: Operated from a basement office.
Collaborations: Involved extensive coordination with law enforcement and intelligence communities.
Continuing Impact: Changed FBI's operational procedures and cooperative strategies.
By the Numbers
Personnel and Resources:
Over 4,000 special agents and 3,000 professional employees.
Involvement of all FBI divisions and field offices.
Efforts:
Conducted over 167,000 interviews.
Collected over 150,000 pieces of evidence.
Processed over 126,600 fingerprint comparisons.
FBI Laboratory: Assisted with DNA identifications.
Specialized Teams: SWAT, Hostage Rescue, and technical experts involved.
The Terrorists
Number: 19 hijackers trained by al Qaeda.
Background:
Pilots from an al Qaeda cell in Hamburg, Germany.
Hijackers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Lebanon.
Entry to U.S.: Began entering in January 2000. All present by July 2001.
The Victims
Total: Nearly 3,000 victims.
Demographics: Ranged from a 2-year-old to an 85-year-old.
Notable Losses: 658 employees from a financial firm, 75 from the U.S. Army, over 400 first responders.
FBI Losses: Two agents, Lenny Hatton and John O'Neill.
Legacy and Training
FBI Director's Mandate: New agents and analysts must visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Purpose: To understand the stakes of their work and remember those who responded to 9/11.
Additional Reference Materials
Comprehensive details on operations and continued impact found in various FBI publications and reports.
Conclusion
The 9/11 attacks significantly shaped the FBI’s mission and operational dynamics, highlighting the importance of collaboration and preparedness in counter-terrorism efforts.