Examine the September 11, 2001 attacks, al-Qaeda’s preparations, the hijacked flights, intelligence warnings and the emergency response. Explore the people, locations, financial transactions and Afghanistan background described in the records. Follow the timeline and official investigations to examine what happened. The records cover the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93, together with passengers, crew, emergency responders, preparations and subsequent investigations.
The September 11, 2001 attacks killed 2,977 people, excluding the hijackers. The records include the aircraft hijackings, passengers and crew, preparations, financial transactions, intelligence warnings, emergency response and subsequent investigations and proceedings.
Two hijacked aircraft struck the World Trade Center, one struck the Pentagon, and Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew resisted. The attacks killed 2,977 people, excluding the hijackers.
The Commission traces bin Laden's Afghan-era organizing, the formation of al-Qaeda, its Sudan period and return to Afghanistan. KSM developed the aircraft proposal; bin Laden and Mohammed Atef provided organizational backing. Some planning details derive from detainee reporting.
The cited records document US aid to anti-Soviet Afghan factions. The Commission described bin Laden’s group as having its own support and training. It recorded Ali Mohamed’s US Army service and later work with extremists. Commercial flight schools taught the pilot-hijackers.
The chronology records entry, school, rental, travel and payment records from 2000 through September 2001 and identifies all 19 hijackers, grouped by flight.
The Commission estimated plot costs at $400,000–$500,000 and approximately $300,000 in US bank-account inflows. Six Ali transfers totaled $119,500. Approximately $26,000 was returned unused.
Oversight findings identify failures to evaluate, investigate and share important information. Hazmi and Mihdhar were not promptly tracked after intelligence identified their travel.
The Commission describes passengers and crew on Flight 93 learning of the other attacks and counterattacking before the crash. Its account also records the information available to the FAA and military and their responses.
The cited records include Moussaoui’s guilty plea and life sentence, a June 2026 Supreme Court petition in another proceeding, and accounts of long-term health effects.
A November 5, 2025 court order stayed proceedings involving Saudi Arabia pending its interlocutory appeal and recorded an earlier denial of a jurisdictional-dismissal motion. The separately cited reporting describes the military trial setting.
The emergency response included firefighters, police, building staff and civilian mariners. The Coast Guard’s retrospective interview adds the boatlift, its organizers and landing routes to the account.
The public memorial entries identify passengers and crew aboard Flight 93. Linked records describe calls and resistance.
NIST’s engineering findings connect uncontrolled fires, interrupted water supply and the probable failure sequence at Column 79.
The September 2026 release expands the public record of presidential threat reporting. It includes warnings about domestic attacks, hijackings, al-Qaeda’s reach and operational capabilities. The July 1998 brief called its sources highly questionable; the September aircraft warning was later described by the Commission as uncorroborated.
An October 1999 brief alleged investments in 57 narcotics laboratories. A February 2000 memorandum returned to the drug allegation. The Commission’s 2004 report found no reliable evidence that bin Laden participated in or earned money from drug trafficking.
The August 6, 2001 brief described threats inside the United States, suspicious activity and ongoing FBI investigations. The September 12 situation report was a post-attack assessment. Its retrospective accounts of preparations are recorded with that publication date.
Afghanistan: aid routes, al-Qaeda and bin Laden
Aid route — May 1980 record: A State Department memorandum describes Soviet-made arms procured by CIA, flown through Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. It assigns Afghan training to Pakistani personnel and describes CIA coordination with Pakistani intelligence. This dated record supports the intermediary route, not a direct CIA–bin Laden relationship.
- State Department memorandum, May 9, 1980
Weapons changed over time: The 1980 memorandum lists Soviet-made weapons. Defense Department history records the 1986 decision to provide U.S. Stinger missiles. The early weapons mix must not be generalized to the entire war.
- State Department memorandum, May 9, 1980
- Defense Department history, volume 10: 1986 Stinger decision
Bin Laden training claim: The 9/11 Commission describes independent support and training for bin Laden’s circle and little or no U.S. assistance. The reviewed sources do not substantiate that CIA trained him.
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 2
Sanctuary and chronology: Bin Laden returned to Afghanistan in 1996; the Taliban alliance supplied sanctuary for al-Qaeda’s training and plotting. He was on a U.S. watchlist by 1993, so a claim that Washington never knew who he was requires a narrower period.
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 2
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 4
Financing: The Commission describes donor fundraising and limited finances after departure from Sudan, rather than a simple explanation that al-Qaeda’s operations were funded entirely from bin Laden’s personal fortune.
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 5
Open questions: exact delivery sites, transaction-level aid amounts and faction recipients. Map routes are schematic regional connections, not verified flight tracks.
Research methods
Prepared September 24, 2026 from the existing subject databases, a light historical overview and targeted public-source checks. This is a bounded first-pass review, not an exhaustive investigation. Official records, attributed reporting and interested-party responses are distinguished. Source limitations and unresolved totals remain explicit.
Read the full research update
Detailed records
World Trade Center
← September 11 reportSeptember 11World Trade Center
Documented in cited record
American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at about 8:46 a.m.; United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower at about 9:03 a.m. Both towers later collapsed. The attacks in New York killed 2,753 people.
Documented connections
Explore this part of the record
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →North Tower
North Tower →Connection and sources →South Tower
South Tower →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Pentagon
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Pentagon
Documented in cited record
American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, at about 9:37 a.m. The 184 victims included 125 people in the building and 59 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft.
Documented connections
Explore this part of the record
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →Aircraft impact
American Airlines Flight 77 →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Flight 93 — Shanksville
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Flight 93 — Shanksville
Documented in cited record
After learning of the other attacks, Flight 93’s passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. The aircraft crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 a.m., killing its 40 passengers and crew. Their resistance prevented the aircraft from reaching its intended Washington target.
Simplified historical route traced from the Commission diagrams; not a point-by-point radar replay.
People and businesses associated with this location
Flight 93 crash site
Ziad Jarrah →Pilot
Connection and sources →Ahmed al-Haznawi →Identified hijacker
Connection and sources →Ahmed al-Nami →Identified hijacker
Connection and sources →Saeed al-Ghamdi →Identified hijacker
Connection and sources →Documented connections
Explore this part of the record
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →Identified hijacker
Ahmed al-Haznawi →Connection and sources →Identified hijacker
Ahmed al-Nami →Connection and sources →Identified hijacker
Saeed al-Ghamdi →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Osama bin Laden
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Osama bin Laden
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
Al-Qaeda leader; Commission findings attribute approval, personnel and backing for the aircraft plot to him.
Afghanistan, 1996: bin Laden arrived in Jalalabad in the east after leaving Sudan. The 9/11 Commission describes his subsequent move to Kandahar following a March 1997 interview.
Before 9/11: the 9/11 Commission identifies Kandahar in southern Afghanistan as his usual base and describes Tarnak Farms near Kandahar airport. The map uses a city reference, not a verified compound coordinate or a position on September 11 itself.
Around September 11, 2001: a 2009 Senate majority staff report describes reports of bin Laden in Khost in eastern Afghanistan, while acknowledging incomplete knowledge of his movements. It traces his later movement through Kabul and Jalalabad to Tora Bora in December.
CIA operations, September 26, 2001: the JAWBREAKER team entered the northeastern Panjshir Valley and joined the Northern Alliance. This is a separate period and operation from the Soviet-war aid program.
Location gap: exact movements around September 11 remain incompletely established in the reviewed records. Historical bases, reported sightings and later battle locations are kept separate.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Leader
Al-Qaeda →Connection and sources →Aid route — May 1980 record
A State Department memorandum describes Soviet-made arms procured by CIA, flown through Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. It assigns Afghan training to Pakistani personnel and describes CIA coordination with Pakistani intelligence. This dated record supports the intermediary route, not a direct CIA–bin Laden relationship.
Aid route — May 1980 record →Connection and sources →Weapons changed over time
The 1980 memorandum lists Soviet-made weapons. Defense Department history records the 1986 decision to provide U.S. Stinger missiles. The early weapons mix must not be generalized to the entire war.
Weapons changed over time →Connection and sources →Bin Laden training claim
The 9/11 Commission describes independent support and training for bin Laden’s circle and little or no U.S. assistance. The reviewed sources do not substantiate that CIA trained him.
Bin Laden training claim →Connection and sources →Sanctuary and chronology
Bin Laden returned to Afghanistan in 1996; the Taliban alliance supplied sanctuary for al-Qaeda’s training and plotting. He was on a U.S. watchlist by 1993, so a claim that Washington never knew who he was requires a narrower period.
Sanctuary and chronology →Connection and sources →Financing
The Commission describes donor fundraising and limited finances after departure from Sudan, rather than a simple explanation that al-Qaeda’s operations were funded entirely from bin Laden’s personal fortune.
Financing →Connection and sources →Sources
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 2: Bin Laden and the origins of al-Qaeda · 2004-07-22
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 5: The aircraft plot and Hamburg group · 2004-07-22
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 4
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee majority staff: Tora Bora Revisited, pp. 4–5 · 2009-11-30
- CIA director remarks: September 26, 2001 insertion into Panjshir · 2016-09-26
- Apple Maps: Kandahar city reference coordinates
- CIA: release of 71 presidential intelligence briefs CIA: release of 71 presidential intelligence briefs · 2026-09-11
- State Department memorandum, May 9, 1980
- Defense Department history, volume 10: 1986 Stinger decision
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 2
- 9/11 Commission, chapter 5
Open the interactive map
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
Principal operational architect in the Commission account; a military-commission defendant. Historical attribution is distinct from a criminal verdict.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Operational planning
Planning network →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Mohammed Atef
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Mohammed Atef
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
Al-Qaeda military leader involved in developing the aircraft operation and assigning operatives.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Planning and personnel
Planning network →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Ali Mohamed
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Ali Mohamed
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
The Commission describes Ali Mohamed’s US Army service, later training of extremists and reconnaissance for al-Qaeda.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Huffman Aviation / Venice
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Huffman Aviation / Venice
Documented in cited record
Atta and al-Shehhi enrolled in flight training in July 2000.
People and businesses associated with this location
Venice, Florida
Mohamed Atta →Flight training
Connection and sources →Marwan al-Shehhi →Flight training
Connection and sources →Connected locations
Atta and al-Shehhi enroll →Timeline location · 2000-07-03
Relationship, dates and sources →Documented connections
Timeline location · 2000-07-03
Atta and al-Shehhi enroll →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Florida Flight Training Center / Venice
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Florida Flight Training Center / Venice
Documented in cited record
Jarrah began flight training in June 2000.
People and businesses associated with this location
Venice, Florida
Ziad Jarrah →Flight training
Connection and sources →People and businesses associated with this location
Florida
Ziad Jarrah →Flight training
Connection and sources →Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Arizona flight training
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Arizona flight training
Documented in cited record
Hanjour held a commercial pilot certificate obtained in Arizona in 1999 and took refresher and simulator training in 2000-2001.
People and businesses associated with this location
Arizona
Hani Hanjour →Flight training
Connection and sources →Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Mohamed Atta
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Mohamed Atta
UnknownDocumented in cited record
Pilot and tactical leader on American Airlines Flight 11. Nationality: Egypt.
Documented connections
Pilot
American Airlines Flight 11 →Connection and sources →Operational liaison
Ramzi bin al-Shibh →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2000-06-03
Atta arrives →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-04-11
Atta and al-Shehhi lease an apartment →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-07-08
Atta arrives in Madrid →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-07-19
Atta returns from Spain →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-09-07
Final positioning →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-09-09
Atta flies to Boston →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-09-10
Atta and Omari travel to Portland →Connection and sources →Connected locations
American Airlines Flight 11 →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Huffman Aviation / Venice →Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta and al-Shehhi enroll →Timeline location · 2000-07-03 → Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →American Airlines Flight 11 →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta flies to Boston →Timeline location · 2001-09-09
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta arrives →Timeline location · 2000-06-03
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta and al-Shehhi lease an apartment →Timeline location · 2001-04-11
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta returns from Spain →Timeline location · 2001-07-19
Relationship, dates and sources →Final positioning →Timeline location · 2001-09-07
Relationship, dates and sources →Final positioning →Timeline location · 2001-09-07
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta flies to Boston →Timeline location · 2001-09-09
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta and Omari travel to Portland →Timeline location · 2001-09-10
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Marwan al-Shehhi
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Marwan al-Shehhi
UnknownDocumented in cited record
Pilot on United Airlines Flight 175. Nationality: United Arab Emirates.
Documented connections
Pilot
United Airlines Flight 175 →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2000-05-29
Al-Shehhi arrives →Connection and sources →Connected locations
United Airlines Flight 175 →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Huffman Aviation / Venice →Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →Atta and al-Shehhi enroll →Timeline location · 2000-07-03 → Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →United Airlines Flight 175 →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Al-Shehhi arrives →Timeline location · 2000-05-29
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Hani Hanjour
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Hani Hanjour
UnknownDocumented in cited record
Pilot on American Airlines Flight 77. Nationality: Saudi Arabia.
Documented connections
Pilot
American Airlines Flight 77 →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2000-12-08
Hanjour returns to the U.S. →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-04-04
Hazmi and Hanjour reach Virginia →Connection and sources →Connected locations
American Airlines Flight 77 →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Arizona flight training →Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →Hanjour returns to the U.S. →Timeline location · 2000-12-08
Relationship, dates and sources →Hanjour returns to the U.S. →Timeline location · 2000-12-08
Relationship, dates and sources →Hazmi and Hanjour reach Virginia →Timeline location · 2001-04-04
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Ziad Jarrah
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Ziad Jarrah
UnknownDocumented in cited record
Pilot on Flight 93 / Pennsylvania. Nationality: Lebanon.
Documented connections
Timeline location · 2000-06-27
Jarrah arrives →Connection and sources →Connected locations
Florida Flight Training Center / Venice →Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →Jarrah arrives →Timeline location · 2000-06-27
Relationship, dates and sources →Florida Flight Training Center / Venice →Flight training
Relationship, dates and sources →Jarrah arrives →Timeline location · 2000-06-27
Relationship, dates and sources →Flight 93 — Shanksville →Pilot
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Plot financing
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Plot financing
Documented in cited record
The Commission estimated plot costs at $400,000–$500,000.
Documented connections
Explore this part of the record
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Ali Abdul Aziz Ali / Ammar al-Baluchi
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Ali Abdul Aziz Ali / Ammar al-Baluchi
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
UAE-based financial facilitator identified in the Commission money records; military-commission defendant.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →$5,000 transfer, 2000-04-16
Nawaf al-Hazmi →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Mustafa al-Hawsawi
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Mustafa al-Hawsawi
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
Financial facilitator associated with UAE accounts and the return of unused money. Military-commission defendant.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Warnings and response
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Warnings and response
Documented in cited record
The records include dated intelligence warnings, oversight findings and emergency actions.
Documented connections
Explore this part of the record
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →Examine information handling
CIA →Connection and sources →Examine information handling
FBI →Connection and sources →Subject examined in records
Fahad al-Thumairy →Connection and sources →Communications
Emergency communications →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-08-06
Presidential warning brief →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
CIA
← September 11 reportSeptember 11CIA
Documented in cited record
Intelligence agency involved in monitoring the Malaysia meeting and receiving travel information; coordination failures documented.
Documented connections
Timeline location · 2001-08-23
Mihdhar and Hazmi alerts circulated →Connection and sources →Connected locations
Mihdhar and Hazmi alerts circulated →Timeline location · 2001-08-23
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
FBI
← September 11 reportSeptember 11FBI
Documented in cited record
Investigative agency; inspector-general findings identify failures in analysis, dissemination and handling of leads.
Documented connections
Timeline location · 2001-07-10
Phoenix memorandum →Connection and sources →Connected locations
Phoenix memorandum →Timeline location · 2001-07-10
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
FAA / air traffic control
← September 11 reportSeptember 11FAA / air traffic control
Documented in cited record
Civil aviation authority coordinating alerts, ground stop and emergency landing orders.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
NORAD / NEADS
← September 11 reportSeptember 11NORAD / NEADS
Documented in cited record
Air-defense command responding to confused and delayed reports. Flight 93 was not intercepted.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Zacarias Moussaoui
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Zacarias Moussaoui
UnknownAttributed historical role; see legal status
Arrested before September 11; later pleaded guilty to six conspiracy charges and received a life sentence. Not one of the 19 aboard the aircraft.
Documented connections
Role in the documented record
Planning network →Connection and sources →Timeline location · 2001-08-16
Moussaoui arrested →Connection and sources →Connected locations
Moussaoui arrested →Timeline location · 2001-08-16
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Long-term health effects
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Long-term health effects
Documented in cited record
Responders and survivors continue to be served by the WTC Health Program. Enrollment, certified conditions and deaths are different statistical measures.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Saudi civil litigation
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Saudi civil litigation
Court order dated November 5, 2025
On November 5, 2025, Judge George B. Daniels stayed proceedings involving Saudi Arabia pending its interlocutory appeal.
Documented connections
Civil proceedings
September 11, 2001 →Connection and sources →Court
Southern District of New York →Connection and sources →Jurisdictional issue
JASTA jurisdiction →Connection and sources →Disputed assistance allegations
Omar al-Bayoumi →Connection and sources →Disputed assistance allegations
Fahad al-Thumairy →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Rescue and evacuation
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Rescue and evacuation
Documented in cited record
Responders and civilians assisted people escaping the World Trade Center.
Documented connections
Fire rescue
FDNY →Connection and sources →Police response
NYPD →Connection and sources →Port Authority response
Port Authority Police →Connection and sources →City coordination
Office of Emergency Management →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Maritime evacuation
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Maritime evacuation
Coast Guard retrospective account
Coast Guard personnel and civilian boats evacuated Lower Manhattan. The Coast Guard interview describes roughly half a million evacuees in nine hours.
People and businesses associated with this location
New York City
U.S. Coast Guard →Coordination
Connection and sources →Mike Day →Coordination → Radio call
Connection and sources →Civilian mariners →Civilian response
Connection and sources →Documented connections
Coordination
U.S. Coast Guard →Connection and sources →Civilian response
Civilian mariners →Connection and sources →New Jersey route
New Jersey landing routes →Connection and sources →Brooklyn route
Brooklyn landing routes →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Mike Day
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Mike Day
UnknownFirst-person retrospective account
Then a Coast Guard lieutenant, Day broadcast a call for civilian vessels.
Documented connections
Radio call
U.S. Coast Guard →Connection and sources →Route coordination
Jamie Wilson →Connection and sources →Connected locations
Maritime evacuation →Coordination → Radio call
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Flight 93 passengers and crew
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Flight 93 passengers and crew
Documented in cited record
Forty passengers and crew died aboard Flight 93. This branch links selected publicly commemorated individuals.
Documented connections
Captain
Jason M. Dahl →Connection and sources →First officer
LeRoy Homer →Connection and sources →Flight attendant
Lorraine G. Bay →Connection and sources →Flight attendant
Sandy Waugh Bradshaw →Connection and sources →Flight attendant
Wanda Anita Green →Connection and sources →Flight attendant
CeeCee Ross Lyles →Connection and sources →Flight attendant
Deborah Jacobs Welsh →Connection and sources →Passenger
Todd M. Beamer →Connection and sources →Passenger
Mark Bingham →Connection and sources →Passenger
Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. →Connection and sources →Passenger
Jeremy Logan Glick →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Flight 93 telephone calls
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Flight 93 telephone calls
Documented in cited record
NPS records 37 calls by 13 people after the hijacking. Callers learned of the other attacks.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Passenger and crew resistance
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Passenger and crew resistance
Documented in cited record
NPS describes a collective decision to resist and an assault beginning at 9:57 a.m.
Documented connections
Recorded sounds
Cockpit voice recorder →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
World Trade Center 7
← September 11 reportSeptember 11World Trade Center 7
Documented in cited record
A separate building that collapsed later that day. NIST attributes its probable collapse sequence to uncontrolled fires and progressive structural failure.
People and businesses associated with this location
New York City
Office of Emergency Management →Headquarters
Connection and sources →NIST investigation →Engineering investigation
Connection and sources →Documented connections
Headquarters
Office of Emergency Management →Connection and sources →Uncontrolled fires
WTC 7 fires →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
NIST investigation
← September 11 reportSeptember 11NIST investigation
Documented in cited record
NIST investigated the WTC 7 collapse under its building-safety authority.
Documented connections
Connected locations
World Trade Center 7 →Engineering investigation
Relationship, dates and sources →Open the interactive map
Column 79
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Column 79
NIST probable collapse sequence
NIST’s probable sequence identifies fire-driven floor failures and loss of support at Column 79 as the start of progressive collapse.
Documented connections
Probable collapse sequence
WTC 7 fires →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Presidential intelligence briefs
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Presidential intelligence briefs
Government document release
CIA released 71 intelligence products on September 11, 2026. This branch traces selected warnings and their later assessment.
Documented connections
Issuing agency
CIA →Connection and sources →Released September 2026
2026 CIA document release →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-02-13
Weapons-acquisition warning →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-02-24
Fatwa targeting Americans →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-06-23
Potential targets abroad and at home →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-07-03
Domestic warnings with questionable sources →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-08-28
Network survives missile strikes →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-09-01
North American infrastructure →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-09-04
Threats in the U.S. and Europe →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-12-04
Hijacking to seek prisoner releases →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1998-12-11
Near-term attack warning →Connection and sources →Brief dated 1999-01-19
Strains with the Taliban →Connection and sources →Brief dated 2000-02-11
Further drug-trafficking allegation →Connection and sources →Brief dated 2001-05-22
Captured suspect’s hostage-plot account →Connection and sources →Brief dated 2001-07-24
One operation delayed, others continuing →Connection and sources →Brief dated 2001-07-25
Assessment of the 1998 fatwa →Connection and sources →Brief dated 2001-08-28
Operational capabilities assessment →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Aircraft attack warning
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Aircraft attack warning
Contemporaneous intelligence assessment
The memorandum included a report that an explosives-laden aircraft might strike a U.S. city. It also stated that intelligence gave no conclusive information about future attack plans.
Documented connections
Later corroboration and analysis review
Aircraft-warning review →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Drug-financing allegation
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Drug-financing allegation
Intelligence allegation; later Commission finding differs
A CIA brief alleged investments in 57 narcotics laboratories associated with Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The 9/11 Commission later found no reliable evidence that bin Laden earned money from drug trafficking.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Drug-financing review
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Drug-financing review
9/11 Commission finding
The Commission found no reliable evidence that bin Laden participated in or earned money from drug trafficking. This differs from the allegations recorded in the released CIA briefs.
Documented connections
Later financing finding differs
Further drug-trafficking allegation →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Determined to strike in the U.S.
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Determined to strike in the U.S.
Contemporaneous intelligence assessment
The brief described domestic threat reporting, suspicious activity consistent with preparations for hijackings, and roughly 70 FBI investigations. Some earlier hijacking reports remained uncorroborated.
Documented connections
Briefing chronology
August 6 briefing record →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
First post-attack situation report
← September 11 reportSeptember 11First post-attack situation report
Contemporaneous intelligence assessment
The 4 a.m. situation report assembled early accounts of bin Laden-related planning and international responses. It was produced after the attacks; some initial accounts in it were mistaken or uncertain.
Documented connections
Open the interactive map
Bin Laden training claim
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Bin Laden training claim
The 9/11 Commission describes independent support and training for bin Laden’s circle and little or no U.S. assistance. The reviewed sources do not substantiate that CIA trained him.
Documented connections
Bin Laden training claim
The 9/11 Commission describes independent support and training for bin Laden’s circle and little or no U.S. assistance. The reviewed sources do not substantiate that CIA trained him.
Osama bin Laden →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
Pakistan intelligence — distribution
← September 11 reportSeptember 11Pakistan intelligence — distribution
May 1980 documented aid chain. Map position is a rounded regional reference, not a verified shipment facility or route.
People and businesses associated with this location
Pakistan — country reference
Saudi Arabia — supply transit →Supply chain described May 1980
Connection and sources →Afghan resistance — recipients →Supply chain described May 1980
Connection and sources →Connected locations
Saudi Arabia — supply transit →Supply chain described May 1980
Relationship, dates and sources →Afghan resistance — recipients →Supply chain described May 1980
Relationship, dates and sources →Documented connections
Supply chain described May 1980
A State Department memorandum describes Soviet-made arms procured by CIA, flown through Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. It assigns Afghan training to Pakistani personnel and describes CIA coordination with Pakistani intelligence. This dated record supports the intermediary route, not a direct CIA–bin Laden relationship.
Saudi Arabia — supply transit →Connection and sources →Supply chain described May 1980
A State Department memorandum describes Soviet-made arms procured by CIA, flown through Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. It assigns Afghan training to Pakistani personnel and describes CIA coordination with Pakistani intelligence. This dated record supports the intermediary route, not a direct CIA–bin Laden relationship.
Afghan resistance — recipients →Connection and sources →Open the interactive map
