The term is a noun phrase, where "terrorists" is the core noun and "September 11th" functions as an adjectival modifier. It specifically identifies the 19 individuals, affiliated with the militant Islamist organization al-Qaeda, who perpetrated the coordinated suicide attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.
The group consisted of four teams of hijackers who seized control of four commercial airliners. These individuals were primarily from Saudi Arabia (15), with others from the United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1), and Lebanon (1). The operation was conceived by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and executed under the direction of al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden. Their actions involved using the hijacked aircraft as guided missiles to strike significant American targets, including the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
The use of this specific noun phrase is critical for historical and legal precision. It distinguishes the perpetrators of this particular event from other groups or individuals engaged in terrorism. This precise identification was foundational to the subsequent U.S. response, including the authorization for the use of military force, the initiation of the "War on Terror," and the establishment of new domestic security frameworks and legislation.
