CIA warned of threat of 'explosive airplane' years before 9/11, documents show
Summary
New documents show that the CIA warned U.S. presidents three years before 9/11 that al-Qaeda might use an airplane loaded with explosives to attack a U.S. city. These warnings were part of secret intelligence reports given to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush before the terrorist attacks in 2001.Key Facts
- The CIA released 71 presidential briefings from 1998 to just after 9/11.
- In a 1998 report, al-Qaeda was said to possibly fly an explosive airplane into a U.S. city, with Washington D.C. as a key target.
- Al-Qaeda attacked U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, killing 224 people.
- The intelligence community was aware of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda’s plans but did not have exact details or timing.
- Only one briefing was released from after the attacks, noting extremists likely knew about the planned strike.
- The Taliban, led by Mullah Omar, had connections with bin Laden at the time.
- Following 9/11, the U.S. and allies invaded Afghanistan to go after al-Qaeda.
- Most of these intelligence briefings had never been made public before and are still partly redacted.
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