Knowra Mohamed Atta Mohamed Atta Mohamed Atta was an Egyptian militant and the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, the first aircraft to strike the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Osama bin Laden : The founder of al-Qaeda, who directed the organization behind the September 11 attacks. Atta’s operation was carried out under bin Laden’s al-Qaeda leadership.
September 11 attacks : A coordinated series of al-Qaeda suicide hijackings against targets in the United States on September 11, 2001. Atta led the first aircraft team in this wider operation.
Egypt : A country in northeastern Africa, where Atta was born and raised. Atta’s upbringing and early education took place in Egypt.
World Trade Center : A complex of buildings in Lower Manhattan, New York City, whose Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001. Atta’s aircraft struck the North Tower, causing mass casualties and collapse.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed : An al-Qaeda planner who proposed and helped develop the September 11 attacks. He developed the attack plan and selected Atta to lead the hijacker team.
Hamburg cell : A group of Islamist militants in Hamburg, Germany, whose members joined al-Qaeda and participated in the September 11 plot. Atta became a leading member of the group that supplied several hijackers.
Cairo University : A public university in Giza, Egypt, founded in 1908. Atta studied architectural engineering there before moving to Germany.
September 11 Commission : A bipartisan U.S. commission that investigated the circumstances and government response to the September 11 attacks. Its report reconstructed Atta’s role and the plot’s development.
Ramzi bin al-Shibh : A Yemeni al-Qaeda member who helped coordinate the September 11 plot from abroad. He maintained contact with Atta and other plotters during preparations.
Al-Qaeda : A transnational militant organization founded by Osama bin Laden. The organization recruited Atta and organized the operation he led.
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