It is the 17th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on the American soil; 9/11. Islamic extremists flew planes into New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon in Washington DC and Pennsylvania, killing almost 3,000 people which triggered significant U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism. In the December 2001, the United States government released a tape in which Osama bin Laden took responsibility for the attacks. 17 years have passed, invaders have been captured or killed, but the terror can never go away from the people’s mind across the world. Twitter condoles the victims of the tragic attack in America's history. 17 Years Since 9/11: Osama bin Laden’s Mother Opens up about her Son. 

Quoting media reports, the September 11 attacks killed about 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 and caused at least ten billion dollars in infrastructure and property damage. Many people died in the following months and years because of the attack related cancer and respiratory diseases. Four passenger airliners were operated by two major United States passenger air carriers-- United Airlines and American Airlines; all of which departed from the airports in the north-eastern part of the US bound for California were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists.

Twitter shares their horrifying 9/11 memories. 

American Airlines Flight 11 travelling from Boston to Los Angeles hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in the New York City. A few minutes later that morning, United Airlines Flight 175 travelling from Boston to Los Angeles strike the south tower of the WTC. In over an hour, both the 110-story towers collapsed. Debris and the resulting fires caused partial or complete damage of all the other buildings in the WTC complex.

Approximately, the attacks caused ten billion dollars in infrastructure and property damage. 

A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77 travelling from Dulles, Virginia to Los Angeles hit the Pentagon Building in Washington. United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth one travelling from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

They woke up to the news. 

Suspicion was quick on al-Qaeda. The United States of America responded by launching the War on Terror and invaded Afghanistan to depose the Taliban which failed to fulfil US demands to deport Osama bin Laden and expel al-Qaeda from Afghanistan. After escaping capture for almost a decade, Osama bin Laden was located and killed in Pakistan by SEAL Team Six of the United States Navy in May 2011.

Never forget September 11, 2001. 

In 2002, the clean-up at Ground Zero ended officially, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure seriously harmed the economy of Lower Manhattan throwing a significant effect on global markets and the lives of the people. Numerous memorials have been constructed that includes the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2018 10:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).