Bin Laden praises 9-11 hijackers in video
Public AddressPart of 9-11
| Event Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Primary Organization | Al-Qaeda | |
| Other Organization | 9-11 plotters | |
| Means of Communication | Videotaped statement | |
| Subject | 9-11 | |
| Issued | Dec. 27, 2001 | |
 | Created | Early December 2001 | |
| Disseminated by | Al-Jazeera | ||
| Participants | Osama bin Laden | |
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| Narrative and Notes | |||
| Reliable | On Dec. 27, 2001, al-Jazeera aired a 33-minute video statement by Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaeda leader praised the 9-11 hijackers as martyrs. He appears gaunt and keeps his left arm somewhat concealed, leading to some speculation he was wounded. He frequently gestures with his right hand. He said the hijackers struck deep in the heart of America's economy, and he calls for further economic attacks: "I concentrate on the importance of continuing holy war actions against America, militarily and economically, and America is retreating with God's help. "This economic hemorrhaging continues until today, but requires more blows. And the youth should try to find the joints of the American economy and hit the enemy in these joints, with God's permission." "Our terrorism is against America. Our terrorism is a blessed terrorism to prevent the unjust person from committing injustice and to stop American support for Israel, which kills our sons." | |
| Questionable | It is unclear precisely when after 9-11 the tape was made. Bin Laden refers to the Sept. 11 attacks as "three months ago," suggesting the tape was made in late November or early December. He says the U.S. bombings that began Oct. 7 are two months old. He also mentions a Nov. 16 U.S. airstrike in Khost, Afghanistan, as having occurred "several days" before. | |
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