The attackers were Islamic terrorists identified as Saudi Arabian and Muslim. Reportedly financed by the al-Qaeda terrorist organization of Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden, they were allegedly acting in revenge for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War and its continued military presence in the Middle East.
Some of the terrorists had lived in the United States for more than a year and had taken flying lessons at American commercial flight schools. Others had slipped into the country in the months before September 11 and acted as the “muscle” in the operation.
The 19 terrorists easily smuggled box-cutters and knives through security at three East Coast airports and boarded four early-morning flights bound for California. The planes were chosen because they were loaded with fuel for the trip across the country. Soon after takeoff, the terrorists took over four planes, the controls, and used ordinary passenger jets into guided missiles.