SBS50: Biggest Story 2001

In 2001 the world changed forever with the 9-11 attacks in the United States. Domestic airliners were hijacked and flown into both towers of New York’s World Trade Centre, the Pentagon in Washington and a field in Pennsylvania.

Smoke rises from the burning twin towers of the World Trade Center after hijacked planes crashed into the towers, in New York City. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Credit: Richard Drew/AP

In all, over two thousand 900 people from over 90 countries were killed, most when the Twin Towers collapsed.

Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack, in a series of deadly and deliberate terrorist attacks.

George Bush Jnr

The U-S responded by launching the so-called ‘War on Terror’ - invading Afghanistan, which it believed sheltered Al-Qaeda militants.

As part of an international coalition, Australia was involved militarily in Afghanistan for more than 10 years.

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