Terror Attacks and Developments- US/NY

  • USSR invades Afghanistan

  • Malcolm Kerr assasinated in Lebanon

    Malcolm Kerr, American University president, assassinated in Beirut; Islamic Jihad claims responsibility
  • Bombing at US Embassy in Lebanon

    Car bomb explodes in front of US Embassy in Lebanon, killing 63 and wounding over 100; Hizballah responsible.
  • Bombing at US Marine barracks in Lebanon

    Islamic Jihad bombs US Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 US Marines and 58 French paratroopers.
  • Bombing at US Embassy in Kuwait

    US and French embassies in Kuwait bombed, killing six and wounding 80; Hizballah responsible.
  • US official kidnapped and murdered in Lebanon

    US official William Buckley seized in Lebanon, later killed by Hizballah.
  • Bombing at US Embassy in Lebanon

    Islamic Jihad Organization responsible for truck bomb at US Embassy annex in Beirut; 23 killed.
  • Two US officials killed in plane hijacking

    In UAE, Hizballah’s Islamic Jihad Organization hijacks plane bound for Tehran; two US officials killed.
  • US journalist kidnapped in Lebanon

    US journalist Terry Anderson kidnapped in Lebanon
  • US Navy diver killed in flight hijacking

    Two Hizballah members hijack TWA flight 847 from Greece and murder US Navy diver, Robert Stethem.
  • Bombing at Rome and Vienna airports

    5 American citizens were killed in simultaneous terrorist attacks at the Rome and Vienna airports, Libya responsible.
  • Bombing at Berlin Nightclub

    Terrorists bombed a West Berlin dance hall known to be frequented by U.S. servicemen. 2 killed, 200 injured. U.S. intelligence reportedly intercepted radio messages sent from Libya responsible, ordered the attack.
  • Three American professors kidnapped in Lebanon

    Jesse Turner, Alan Steen, Robert Polhill, and Mithileshwar Singh kidnapped in Beirut
  • Lockerbie bombing

    Pan Am Flight 103 destroyed by bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland; all 259 passengers and 11 on ground killed, majority American. Libya responsible, in retaliation for 1986 U.S. bombing campaign against Libya’s capital city, Tripoli. Libyan leader eventually extradites bombers and pays damages to the families of the victims.
  • Bombing at Hotel in Yemen

    Bombing of Gold Mohur Hotel in Aden, Yemen, where US servicemen were known to stay. Few casualties. Incident is believed to be the first attack by al-Qa‘ida against US interests.
  • Bombing at the World Trade Center

    World Trade Center bombed, 6 killed and 1,000 wounded. Bombing in parking lot below the towers with failed plan to topple them. Bomber received training and financial support from al-Qa’ida.
  • Man convicted for plotting terror attacks in New York

    Shaykh Umar ‘Abd al-Rahman convicted in plot to blow up UN Headquarters and other landmarks in New York.
  • Bombing at US military facility in UAE

    In UAE, car bomb at US military advisors’ facility in Riyadh kills seven, wounds more than 60; Saudis with ties to Bin Ladin arrested.
  • Osama bin Laden issues declaration of war against the US and the West

    Osama bin Laden issues declaration of war against the US and the West, calling for the death of Americans wherever they are found.
  • Bombings at US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

    Bombings at the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 224 people killed, 4,500+ wounded. Linked to al-Qa’ida.
  • Bombing of USS Cole in Yemen

    Bombing of USS Cole off Yemen coast kills 17 and wounds 39, Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’ida responsible.
  • Ahmad Shah Massour assasinated

    Opposition leader and US-backed Ahmad Shah Massour assasinated by al-Qa’ida suicide bombers in Afghanistan, ordered by Osama bin Laden.
  • September 11th Coordinated Attacks

    Four passenger planes hijacked, two crash into the World Trade Center in NY, one crashes into the Pentagon, one crashes into a field in PN. 2,977 people killed, 6,000+ injured. Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’ida responsible.
  • US-led coalition begins military campaign in response to 9/11

    US-led coalition begins military campaign in response to 9/11 attacks. Goal is to topple the Taliban government and dismantle al-Qa'ida
  • Attempted flight hijacking

    Islamist, British citizen who converted to Islam and trained with al-Qa’ida, attempts to detonate a bomb aboard a flight from Paris to Miami but is restrained by those on board.
  • Boston Marathon Bombing

    Two bombs detonated near the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Two individuals responsible; motivated by extremist Islamist beliefs and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; said that they were self-radicalized and unconnected to any outside terrorist groups. Killed 3, injured 264.
  • Mosul falls to ISIS

    ISIS (off-shoot of al-Qa'ida) seizes control of Mosul, Iraq. Later in the month ISIS announces the formation of a caliphate stretching from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq.
  • US-led coalition begins airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq

    A US-led coalition begins airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and expands the campaign to Syria the following month.
  • Shooting at Black church in South Carolina

    White supremacist man opens fire at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, killing nine.
  • Shooting and attempted bombing at California municipal building

    In San Bernardino, CA a married couple opened fire at a municipal building, killing 14. They left 2 bombs that failed to detonate. They were self-radicalized and inspired by foreign terrorist groups.
  • Driver goes on rampage in NYC

    Driver in NYC struck pedestrians and cyclists, then hit school bus. 8 killed and 12 injured. Attacker was inspired by ISIS.
  • Iraqi Prime Minister declares victory over ISIS

    Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi declares victory over the Islamic State in Iraq. ISIS has lost 95% of its territory.
  • Trump supporter mails explosives to political figures

    A far-right Trump supporter mails 13 explosives over the course of 2018 to figures/locations including Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the CNN headquarters in New York. None of the explosives detonated as planned.
  • Shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue

    White supremacist man opens fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 and wounding 7.
  • Baghouz falls

    Syrian forces defeat remaining ISIS forces in Baghouz, Syria, formally ending the caliphate’s claim to any territory.
  • Shooting at synagogue in California

    White supremacist man opens fire at a synagogue in Poway, CA, killing one.
  • Shooting at Walmart in Texas

    A 21-year-old white man shot and killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso after posting a manifesto that described his motive as a “Hispanic invasion” and expressed support for the deadly attacks against mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Afghanistan Falls to the Taliban

  • US completes withdrawal of troops from Afhganistan