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The First World Trade Center Bombing
On February 26, 1993, a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower into the South Tower, bringing both towers down and killing thousands of people. It failed to do so, but did kill six people and injured more than a thousand. -
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Events
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Hebron Massacre, February 25, 1994:
Jewish right-wing extremist and U.S. citizen Baruch Goldstein machine-gunned Moslem worshippers at a mosque in West Bank town of Hebron, killing 29 and wounding about 150. -
Bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City
Right-wing extremists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols destroyed the Federal Building in Oklahoma City with a massive truck bomb that killed 166 and injured hundreds more in what was up to then the largest terrorist attack on American soil. -
Kashmiri Hostage-taking
In India six foreigners, including two U.S. citizens, were taken hostage by Al-Faran, a Kashmiri separatist group. One non-U.S. hostage was later found beheaded. -
HAMAS Bus Attack
In Jerusalem, a suicide bomber blew up a bus, killing 26 persons, including three U.S. citizens, and injuring some 80 persons, including three other US citizens. -
Abduction of US. Citizen by FARC
Five armed men claiming to be members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) kidnapped and later killed a U.S. geologist at a methane gas exploration site in La Guajira Department. -
Murder of U.S. Businessmen in Pakistan
Two unidentified gunmen shot to death four U.S. auditors from Union Texas Petroleum Corporation and their Pakistani driver after they drove away from the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi. The Islami Inqilabi Council, or Islamic Revolutionary Council, claimed responsibility in a call to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. In a letter to Pakistani newspapers, the Aimal Khufia Action Committee also claimed responsibility. -
U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa
A bomb exploded at the rear entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, killing 12 U.S. citizens, 32 Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs), and 247 Kenyan citizens. Approximately 5,000 Kenyans, 6 U.S. citizens, and 13 FSNs were injured. The U.S. Embassy building sustained extensive structural damage. Almost simultaneously, a bomb detonated outside the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing 7 FSNs and 3 Tanzanian citizens, and injuring 1 U.S. citizen and 76 Tanzanians. The explosion caus -
AFRC Kidnappings
An Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) faction kidnapped 33 UN representatives near Occra Hills, Sierra Leone. The hostages included one U.S. citizen, five British soldiers, one Canadian citizen, one representative from Ghana, one military officer from Russia, one officer from Kyrgystan, one officer from Zambia, one officer from Malaysia, a local Bishop, two UN officials, two local journalists, and 16 Sierra Leonean nationals. -
ELN Kidnapping
In Bogota, Colombia, ELN militants kidnapped a 5-year-old U.S. citizen and his Colombian mother, demanding an undisclosed ransom. -
Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland
Two hijacked airliners crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Soon thereafter, the Pentagon was struck by a third hijacked plane. A fourth hijacked plane, suspected to be bound for a high-profile target in Washington, crashed into a field in southern Pennsylvania. The attacks killed 3,025 U.S. citizens and other nationals. President Bush and Cabinet officials indicated that Usama Bin Laden was the prime suspect and that they considered the United States in a state of war with in -
Anthrax Attacks
On October 7 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that investigators had detected evidence that the deadly anthrax bacterium was present in the building where a Florida man who died of anthrax on October 5 had worked. Discovery of a second anthrax case triggered a major investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The two anthrax cases were the first to appear in the United States in 25 years. Anthrax subsequently appeared in mail received by televisi -
Kidnapping of Daniel Pearl
Armed militants kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistani authorities received a videotape on February 20 depicting Pearl's murder. His grave was found near Karachi on May 16. Pakistani authorities arrested four suspects. Ringleader Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh claimed to have organized Pearl's kidnapping to protest Pakistan's subservience to the United States, and had belonged to Jaish-e-Muhammad, an Islamic separatist group in Kashmir. All four suspects wer -
Bombing at the Hebrew University
A bomb hidden in a bag in the Frank Sinatra International Student Center of Jerusalem's Hebrew University killed 9 persons and wounded 87. The dead included 5 U.S. citizens and 4 Israelis. The wounded included 4 U.S. citizens, 2 Japanese, and 3 South Koreans. The Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) claimed responsibility. -
Truck Bomb Attacks in Saudi Arabia
Suicide bombers attacked three residential compounds for foreign workers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 34 dead included 9 attackers, 7 other Saudis, 9 U.S. citizens, and one citizen each from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Philippines. Another American died on June 1. It was the first major attack on U.S. targets in Saudi Arabia since the end of the war in Iraq. Saudi authorities arrested 11 al-Qaida suspects on May 28. -
Bomb Attack on U.S. Diplomats in the Gaza Strip
A remote-controlled bomb exploded under a car in a U.S. diplomatic convoy passing through the northern Gaza Strip. Three security guards, all employees of DynCorp, were killed. A fourth was wounded. The diplomats were on their way to interview Palestinian candidates for Fulbright scholarships to study in the United States. Palestinian President Arafat and Prime Minister Qurei condemned the attack, while the major Palestinian militant groups denied responsibility. The next day, Palestinian securi -
American Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq
In Nasiriyah, Iraq, two armed men kidnapped a U.S. journalist and his Iraqi translator. On 22 August 2004, the journalist and translator were released. A group calling itself the Mahdi Army claimed responsibility -
U.S. Civilian Killed in Iraq
In Baghdad, Iraq, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a civilian vehicle, killing one U.S. civilian. No group claimed responsibility. -
American and British Civilians Abducted in Iraq
In Mansour District, Baghdad, Iraq, unknown assailants abducted 2 Americans and 1 British citizen. On 20 September 2004, the hostage takers beheaded one American. The British citizen was killed on 7 October 2004. Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad claimed responsibility. -
Photographer Kidnapped in Iraq
In Baghdad, Iraq, unidentified assailants kidnapped a U.S. freelance photographer for World Picture News. The victim was released on 13 October 2004. No group claimed responsibility. -
Kidnapping in Iraq
In Baghdad, Iraq, unknown assailants abducted a Lebanese-American from his office in Mansour District. As of 29 march 2005, the disposition of the victim was unknown. No group claimed responsibility. -
Bombing of Transportation Targets in London
On 7 July 2005, between 8:50 AM and 8:56 AM, in London, England, United Kingdom, three suicide bombers each detonated a backpack-concealed improvised explosive device (IED) at a different point along the city’s commuter rail transit system (between Kings Cross Station and Russell Square Station, between Liverpool Street Station and Aldgate Station on the Piccadilly line, and between Edgeware Road Station and Paddington Station on the Circle line). At 9:47 AM, a fourth suicide bomber detonated a -
American Contractors Attacked in Al Anbar, Iraq
At about 8:30 AM, near Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq, assailants attacked a convoy, killing two contractors (including one US contractor), three security guards, and one civilian, and damaging several vehicles. Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility. -
Hostages Kidnapped in Baghdad
In Baghdad, Iraq, assailants kidnapped four humanitarian aid workers (one US national, one UK national, and two Canadian nationals). On 7 March 2006, a video of the hostages was shown by al-Jazeera TV, dated 28 February 2006, showing only the UK and Canadian hostages. -
American Security Consultant Kidnapped
In Iraq, assailants kidnapped an American security consultant. On 8 December 2005, the assailants killed their victim. The Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) claimed responsibility.
