Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Key events: Chronology of some key events in U.S. before and after Sept. 11, 2001

Feb. 26, 1993: Bomb explodes in garage under World Trade Center, killing six and injuring more than 1,000. Group of Islamic extremists later convicted.

Nov. 13, 1995: Seven people, including five Americans, killed when two bombs explode at U.S.-Saudi military facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Osama bin Laden blamed for attack.

Sept. 27, 1996: Taliban, suspected of giving refuge to bin Laden, completes takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan.

June 25, 1996: Bin Laden followers detonate bomb at U.S. military base near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 soldiers and wounding hundreds of Americans and Saudi Arabians.

Aug. 7, 1998: U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, bombed, killing more than 250 people, including 12 Americans, and injuring 5,000. In retaliation, United States launches airstrikes against suspected terrorist camps in Sudan and Afghanistan.

Oct. 12, 2000: Suicide bombers in Yemen attack U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole, killing 17 sailors. Officials suspect bin Laden involvement.

Jan. 15, 2001: U.N. imposes new economic sanctions against Taliban for refusing to turn over bin Laden for trial.

Sept. 11:

Sept. 12: Bush labels attacks "acts of war,"asks alies to join war on terrorism. NATO declares terrorism an attack on all 19 member states.

Sept. 13: Secretary of State Colin Powell identifies bin Laden as prime suspect. Limited commercial flights resume. National Football League, Mjor League Baseball call off weekend games.

Sept. 14: Justice Department names 19 suspects in attacks; intelligence sources link them directly to bin Laden. Bush gives military authority to call up 50,000 reservists.

Sept. 15: Pakistan agrees to U.S. demands for possible attack on neighboring Afghanistan.

Sept. 16: Bush pledges "crusade" to "rid the world of evil-doers."

Sept. 17: Wall Street trading resumes. Dow loses 684.81 points, its worst-ever one-day point drop.

Sept. 18: Taliban leaders call on Muslims to wage holy war on United States if it attacks.

Sept. 19: Pentagon orders combat aircraft to Persian Gulf bases. American and United airlines announce 40,000 layoffs.

Sept. 20: Bush announces new Cbinet-level Office of Homeland Security, to be led by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Sept. 25: Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Taliban.

Sept. 27: Bush announces plan to bolster airline security.

Sept. 28: U.N. Security Council approves U.S.-sponsored resolution demanding all nations take sweeping action against terrorism.

Oct. 5: Tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens dies of anthrax in Florida, in nation's first known case of inhalation version of disease since 1976; a total of five people eventually die from anthrax infections.

Oct. 7: First airstrikes launched in Afghanistan; targets include capital of Kabul, bin Laden training camps and Taliban bases. Bin Laden, in videotaped message, praises God for Sept. 11 attacks and swears America will never "dream of security" until "the infidels' armies leave the land of Muhammad."

Oct. 10: Air Force sergeant killed in heavy-equipment accident, becoming first death in campaign.

Oct. 11: U.S. troops, aircraft deployed in Pakistan despite Islamic protests.

Oct. 15: Officials announce anthrax spores found in letter to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

Oct. 26: Bush signs anti-terrorism bill giving police unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain and eavesdrop in pursuit of possible terrorists.

Oct. 28: Thousands of relatives of World Trade Center victims gather at site for first official memorial.

Oct. 31: American Red Cross stops accepting donations to terrorism victims fund after raising more than a half-billion dollars.

Nov. 7: Federal agents raid U.S. businesses suspected of helping funnel millions of dollars to bin Laden's network.

Nov. 9: Taliban abandon strategic northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Nov. 19: Bush signs law to hire 28,000 federal workers to screen passengers and baggage at major airports.

Nov. 25: First wave of Marines lands near Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. CIA officer Johnny Spann killed by rioting prisoners at Mazar-e-Sharif, in first death of American in action in Afghanistan.

Dec. 1: Northern Alliance forces turn over to U.S. custody John Walker Lindh, American who fought with the Taliban.

Dec. 5: Three American soldiers killed by "smart" bomb dropped by B-52 near Kandahar.

Dec. 11: First criminal charges in Sept. 11 attacks brought against Zacarias Moussaoui.

Dec. 15:Last piece of trade center facade pulled down.

Dec. 22: British citizen Richard Reid allegedly tries to blow up Miami-bound jet using bomb hidden in shoe.

Jan. 4, 2002: U.S. military loses first member to hostile action when Army Special Forces sergeant killed near Khost, Afghanistan.

Feb. 13: Lindh pleads innocent to a 10-count federal indictment charging him with aiding terrorist network.

Feb. 17: Federal government assumes control of security checkpoints at nation's 429 commercial airports.

March 18: U.S. commanders declare end of largest U.S.-led ground operation in Afghan campaign.

May 28: Last standing steel beam from trade center cut down.

July 1: U.S. air raid in Uruzgan province kills 46 civilians, including 25 at a wedding party, according to Afghan government.

July 15: Lindh pleads guilty to supplying services to Taliban and carrying explosives during commission of a felony and agrees to cooperate with terrorism investigations.

July 15: Ceremony ends 10 months of sifting through trade center ruins.

Aug. 15: More than 600 family members of Sept. 11 victims file trillion-dollar federal lawsuit against Saudi officials and institutions.

Aug. 17: Moussaoui trial delayed until Jan. 6, 2003.

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