Anniversary 9/11

I can still recall the day that the world changed. It was a Tuesday. Every one of us went about our lives, our heads filled with work, bills, family life etc... Whatever your life, wherever you lived, there is no doubt that the events of this fateful day would have made some impact upon your world.

On 11th September 2001 nineteen Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial planes with intent to commit the most horrific crime on Earth. Two of the planes were used as missiles, flying into the World Trade Centre, a third into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The Twin Towers collapsed!

In total, 2,993 people died, including the hijackers.Terrorist ringleader Mohamed Atta (left), Osama bin Laden (right)

This was not the first terrorist attack by Al Qaeda but it was the first such attack on the home soil of the United States. Osama bin Laden, founder of the Al Qaeda organisation, had declared war on the world. His objectives, and those of his followers: to end foreign influence in Muslim countries and to see the creation of a new Islamic caliphate. Another possible motive is that there is a belief among some that a Christian-Jewish alliance is conspiring to destroy Islam.

Al Qaeda's belief: the murder of bystanders and civilians is religiously justified in jihad.
Of course, the nationality of 9/11 victims varies; this is not just a war between the United States and Al Qaeda. Since 2001 there have been indiscriminate attacks on civilians by suicide bombers loyal to the Al Qaeda belief. Who can forget the London bombings on 7th July 2005? Or the Bali bombings? And Al Qaeda has in turn accused the Western world, and especially America and Britain, of targeting Muslims.

But all I see is that there exists a war between humans, a terrifying event that has engulfed all that is good in the world.

Let us one day find peace - for all our sakes!