On September 11th, 2001, the United States suffered the largest terrorist offensive throughout its history. The nightmare started at 8:45 a.m. A Boeing 767 property of American Airlines, on route from Boston to Los Angeles was hijacked and deliberately crashed on one of the twin towers at New York City. About 18 minutes later, American Airlines Flight 175, on route from Boston to Los Angeles, hit the second tower.

Almost concomitantly, an American Airlines Boeing 757 crashed on the Pentagon. A fourth aircraft, the United Airlines Flight 93, failed to hit a target because both passengers and crew members tried to retake control. As a result, the plane fell on an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The entire world witnessed the disaster on TV. And in the midst of a true psychosis, a hardly forgetful event occurred. At 10:00 a.m. the South Tower, the second target, crumbled. In the meantime, there was a terrifying sight. Many people threw themselves from the windows as they could not flee the huge fireball. The second building, the North Tower, completely collapsed at 10:29 a.m.

From the very beginning, Saudi millionaire Osama Bin Laden was accused of being the mastermind. Al Qaeda terrorist cells were the perpetrators.

The total death toll was of 2,973; 24 people are still missing. Never again the United States would be the same after these events.

Author Arturo Úslar Pietri, regarded as the most universal Venezuelan in the 20th century, died in Caracas.

Pope John Paul II named Caracas archbishop José Ignacio Velasco as cardinal.

Caracas metropolitan mayor Alfredo Peña executed a nine-month agreement with US police advisor William Bratton in order to reduce the insecurity rate.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez announced a set of measures called "the cultural revolution." He removed directors of museums, galleries, publishing houses and other related agencies by arguing that they "were not in line with the process."

An educational reform proposed by the central government and transposed into Decree 1,011, was strongly refused by the opposition, which made effective its slogan "Leave my children alone."

There was great expectation in Caracas on the commissioning of a streamlined cable railway.

The Ecuadorian island of Galápagos was in jeopardy when an Ecuadorian oil tanker ran aground on the coast, resulting in a spill that was quickly contained. The natural reserve did not suffer major damages.

In a summit held at Québec, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) unanimously approved that any member transgressing the democratic order should leave the organization.