By Ben Cal
MANILA, Sept. 8 — Out of the 2,998 people, mostly Americans who were killed in what is known the world over as the devastating 9/11 terror attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. nine years ago, 310 were foreign nationals, including 16 Filipinos.
It may be recalled that all 19 terrorists who hijacked four passenger jetliners were also killed when they smashed two of the aircraft in suicide attacks into the Twin Towers in New York, one at Pentagon and the other crashed in a crowded area in Pennsylvania after the passengers on board fought the hijackers.
It was believed that the terrorists were aiming to smash the planes at the White House.
The largest number of foreign nationals who perished on that fateful day of Sept. 11, 2001 was composed of the British with 67; followed by South Koreans, 41; Canadians and Japanese, 24 each; Colombians, 17; Filipinos, Jamaicans and Mexicans, 16 each; Australians and Germans, 11 each, and Italians, 10.
The following is the complete list of fatalities per country as provided by Yahoo.com, Country total fatalities in alphabetical order):
Argentina 4, Australia 11, Bangladesh 6, Belarus 1, Belgium 1, Brazil 3, Canada 24, Chile 2, China 4, Côte d'Ivoire 1, Colombia 17, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2, Dominican Republic 1, El Salvador 1, Ecuador 3, France 3, Germany 11, Ghana 2, Guyana 3, Haiti 2, Honduras 1, India 41, Indonesia 1, Ireland 6, Israel 5, Italy 10, Jamaica 16, Japan 24, Jordan 2, Lebanon 3, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 3, Mexico 16, Moldova 1, Netherlands 1, New Zealand 2, Nigeria 1, Peru 5; the Philippines 16, Portugal 5, Poland 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, South Africa 2, South Korea 41, Spain 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 2, Republic of China (Taiwan) 1, Ukraine 1, Uzbekistan 1, United Kingdom 67, Bermuda 1, Venezuela 1.
Of the total fatalities, only 1,588 were identified through forensic examinations.
The United States and the rest of the world will observe the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on Saturday.
That fateful day shook the entire world when 19 members of the al Qaeda terror group seized four American passenger planes while flying inside U.S. airspace.
The shocking events were witnessed live on television in full view of world audience when two planes ((this time))) piloted by terrorists rammed the Twin Towers in downtown New York one after the other.
The attacks angered the U.S. and responded by launching the war on terror in various parts of the world where al Qaeda has links or terrorist groups operate.
This also prompted governments around the world, including the Philippines, to strengthen their anti-terrorist campaigns.
The Philippines has scored successfully against the Abu Sayyaf, a terror group linked with Osama bin Laden of the al Qaeda terrorists’ network.
Among those killed by Philippine troops over the years were several top Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani. (PNA Feature)
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