Brussels, 11 September 2021(TDI): Sophie Wilmès, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, pays tribute to the 9/11 victims. Terrorism, according to the foreign minister, is a danger to our core principles and societies. Staying more determined than ever to fight terrorism and violent extremism alongside allies and partners. The international community has strengthened its commitment to combat terrorism, and Belgium actively supports efforts to improve international cooperation. The thoughts of the minister of foreign affairs are with all those who have been victims of terrorism across the world.
On September 11, 2001 morning, the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda carried out a series of four coordinated terrorist strikes against the United States of America.19 al-Qaeda militants seized four commercial planes flying from the northeastern United States to California in the middle of the flight. Three groups of five hijackers and one group of four hijackers were formed. Each group had a hijacker who had completed flying instruction and assumed command of the plane. Their stated objective was for each aircraft to crash into a famous American structure, resulting in numerous fatalities and partial or full destruction of the targets.
Belgium was also attacked by a terrorist group in 2016. The 2016 Brussels bombings were a planned terrorist assault carried out by the Islamic State on 22 March 2016 in Brussels, Belgium. Three synchronized suicide bombs occurred: two at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and one at the Brussels metro station Maalbeek. Thirty-two civilians died, along with three perpetrators, and over 300 people were injured. During a check of the airport, another explosive was discovered. The assaults were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
