Understanding Terrorism

Understanding Terrorism

Updated: August 29, 2011

Osama bin Laden was the head of the terrorist organization al-Qaida. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the United States has been engaged in an ongoing effort to capture or kill him. On Sunday, an elite crew of American soldiers succeeded in killing him during a firefight in a compound where he was hiding outside of Islamabad, Pakistan.

Late Sunday evening, President Obama made an announcement about the events. On Monday, the President called it "a good day for America" as the country absorbed the news that the world's most wanted terrorist is no longer a threat.

Find out more about what happened in our interactive feature below and then take the quiz to find out how terrorism came to exist and how it has changed the world.
Image: Quiz: Understanding Terrorism
Quiz: Understanding Terrorism

Test your knowledge with this quiz.

 
Image: Terrorism Tracker
Terrorism Tracker

Find out more about the terrorists the U.S. is looking for.

 
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Interactive: Osama bin Laden Dead

A U.S. strike killed the terrorist head. Learn more about what happened here.

 
Image: interrogation
Video: Interrogation Techniques

A look at whether enhanced interrogations techniques helped find Bin Laden.

 
Image: Teen Makes 9/11 Documentary
Video: Teen Makes 9/11 Documentary

Shelby Holliday talk to a teen who went to school a few blocks from the twin towers on 9/11.

 
Image: steven asks teens
Video: Are We Safer with No Bin Laden?

A look at security after this week's news.

 
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Video: The Phone Call that led to Bin Laden

Justin Finch traces the intelligence work that helped the U.S. track down the terrorist.

 
Image: helicopter crash
Video: Osama bin Laden's Discovery and Death

What happened and how the world is reacting.

 
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Video: Osama bin Laden's Life

How his death could impact global terrorism and our safety.

 
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Video: Teens React to Osama Bin Laden's Death

What people think about the death of the world's most wanted terrorist.

 
Image: Oregon Terror Plot
Video: Portland Terror Plot

What was planned by a 19-year-old and how the FBI stopped his plot.

 
Image: Court Sketch
Video: Shahzad Sentenced

Would-be Times Square bomber sentenced to life in prison.

 
 

 

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