Information about terrorism that U.S. officials received
BEFORE
Sept. 11, 2001

AP 19may02

1994

Algerian hijacking foiled in Marseille, France. French government reveals target was the Eiffel Tower and warns that the next step for terrorists is to train as pilots.

1995

Philippine authorities arrest Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Abdul Hakim Murad. Murad admits link to Osama bin Laden, and a plot to fly a plane into CIA headquarters. He says Mideastern pilots are training at U.S. flight schools to blow up U.S. planes over the Pacific.

FBI is alerted and interviews flight school attendees. It has no evidence that these men were plotting terrorism.

1999

French intelligence is aware of Zacarias Moussaoui (suspected 20th hijacker to go on trial in the U.S.) as early as 1999, when he is placed on a watch list for links to the Armed Islamic Group, responsible for '95 bombings in Paris subway.

2000

Philippine investigation leads to Indonesian cleric named Hambali in Malaysia. He is tied to al Qaeda and other groups. Under surveillance in January, he meets with two future 9/11 hijackers in Kuala Lumpur.

January

One unidentified al Qaeda operative from the Middle East becomes wanted in connection with the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole.

February

Moussaoui is granted a U.S. visa to train as a pilot in the United States.

July

French Algerian Djamel Beghal is arrested in Dubai with a false passport. He details al Qaeda plot to blow up U.S. interests in Europe and admits meeting bin Laden operatives at mosques in Britain. He also admits to weapons training in Afghanistan and meeting bin Laden's top aide, Abu Zubaydah.

December

Intelligence community records an increase in traffic concerning terrorist activities.

2001

April-May

Government learns of threats from bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network against U.S. targets.

April 18

Warning from the Federal Aviation Administration to airlines that Middle Eastern terrorists could try to hijack or blow up a U.S. plane and that carriers should 'demonstrate a high degree of alertness.'

Summer

Israeli intelligence services aware bin Laden is planning a large-scale terror attack pass information on to Washington.

June

Participants in the millennium bombing plot testify in trial that Zubaydah had said there was interest in attacking the United States.

June 22

FAA issues circular to private carriers from law enforcement, noting there is concern of a possible attack.

June 26

Intelligence community records an increase in threats and State Department issues worldwide caution to Americans traveling or living abroad. Late June Federal counterterrorism security group meets to discuss intelligence reports of possible terrorist threats.

July

Italy closes Genoa's airspace during G-8 summit after Egyptian president passes information to Washington about a possible threat on President Bush's life, following a June 13 video made by bin Laden. FBI's Arizona office warns Washington about a large number of Arabs seeking pilot, security and airport- operations training at a U.S. flight school and urges a canvass of all flight schools.

July 2

FBI releases message to law enforcement agencies saying there were threats to American interests overseas and a domestic strike could not be ruled out. FAA issues internal communication that a terrorist convicted in the millennium bombing plot had intended to use explosives in an airport terminal.

July 5

President Bush asks National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to evaluate what action is being taken in response to all the information.

July 6

Counterterrorism security group meets again, suspending nonessential travel of U.S. counterterrorism staff because of concern about potential attacks in Turkey and Rome.

Mid-July

Intelligence community reports a spike in the number of threats, many related to an upcoming summit for leaders of the eight countries with the most powerful economies.

July 18

FAA issues another warning about terrorist threats overseas. FBI issues another communication raising concern about threats stemming from millennium plot conviction.

Late July

FAA issues another warning that says terror groups are known to be planning and training for hijackings.

August

Two Saudis who were at the Kuala Lumpur meeting in Jan. 2000 are added to CIA watch list. At the time of the meeting, they were not wanted by American authorities. But the Cole and cleric connection got them placed on the list a month before they helped hijack the jet that flew into the Pentagon. Moussaoui is arrested on a visa violation after telling a flight instructor in Minnesota he wants to learn to fly a commercial plane, but not to take off or land. Aug. 6 U.S. intelligence tells Bush that al Qaeda might try to hijack American airplanes, prompting Bush administration to issue a private alert to law enforcement agencies.

Sept. 9

Suspected bin Laden operatives assassinate Northern Alliance leader Gen. Ahmed Shah Massood in Afghanistan; the killing was designed to weaken the Northern Alliance just days before attacks on the U.S. prompted a response against the Taliban.

Sept. 10

European authorities begin looking into the plot against U.S. interests in Europe.

Source: Associated Press