Islamic terrorism facts for kids

Terrorism is when groups use violence and fear to try and achieve their goals, often political or religious. Some extremist groups claim their actions are based on their understanding of the Islamic religion. However, their violent acts are not supported by the vast majority of Muslims or the true teachings of Islam. These groups often have extreme views and use violence to try and force their beliefs on others.

Understanding Extremist Groups

Terrorist groups are different from regular political groups because they use violence against innocent people to create fear. They hope this fear will make governments or societies change their policies. These groups often have very specific goals, like changing a government or creating a new state based on their extreme ideas.

Why Some Groups Claim Religious Motivation

Some extremist groups say their actions are motivated by their religion. They often misinterpret religious texts to support their violent acts. It is important to remember that these interpretations are not shared by most followers of that religion. For example, the vast majority of Muslims do not support terrorism and condemn the actions of these extremist groups.

Key Terrorist Groups and Events

One of the most well-known extremist groups is al-Qaeda. This group was founded by Osama bin Laden. They were responsible for the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. In these attacks, airplanes were crashed into important buildings, causing a lot of damage and loss of life. These events showed the world the devastating impact of terrorism.

The September 11 Attacks

On September 11, 2001, members of al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City, causing them to collapse. Another plane hit the Pentagon building near Washington, D.C.. A fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers. These attacks led to a global effort to fight terrorism.

Impact of Terrorism

Terrorism causes a lot of harm, not just to the people directly affected, but also to societies. It can create fear, distrust, and division. It also often leads to increased security measures around the world. While the number of people who died from terrorist activity increased in the early 2000s, it has since dropped significantly in recent years. This shows that efforts to combat terrorism can be effective.

Related pages

• Osama bin Laden
• September 11 attacks

Images for kids

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  The September 11 attacks against the United States in 2001 were carried out by the Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda

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  The number of people who died from terrorist activity has increased ninefold from 2000 to 2014, but then dropped by half over the next five years.

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  Osama Bin Laden, the founder of multinational terrorist group Al-Qaeda, in November 2001.

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  United Airlines Flight 175 explodes after being flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the 11 September terrorist attacks.

See also

In Spanish: Yihadismo para niños