These hideous examples of mindless brutality continue to terrify even years later. Terrorist acts cause damage, first of all, to the psychological state of people. While the country's economy recovers from the aftermath of a terrorist attack within months, the civilian population's sense of insecurity has lasted for years.
Our today's top ten contains the loudest terrorist attacks of the XXI century according to RBC.Rating.
10. Explosions in Kakhtaniya (14.08.2007, Iraq)
The city of Kakhtanya, inhabited by Yezidi Kurds belonging to a religious minority, was targeted by terrorists who blew up 4 fuel tankers with explosives. At least 500 people were injured in the explosions.
9. Explosions in London (07.07.2005 and 21.07.2005, UK)
The first four explosions in the London Underground killed 52 people, injuring about 700 more. The second series of terrorist attacks, fortunately, were without casualties. All surviving terrorists were brought to justice.
8. Terrorist act in Beslan (01.09.2004 - 03.09.2004, Russia)
One of the most brutal terrorist attacks in history. For more than two days the terrorists held about 1,100 hostages, mostly children. The terrorist attack killed 334 people, of which 186 were children. The only surviving terrorist was sentenced to life in prison.
7. Series of explosions in Iraq (24.06.2004, Iraq)
A series of bombings and attacks on police stations affected five cities in the country. More than 70 people died, dozens were seriously injured.
6. Terrorist attacks in Madrid (11.03.2004, Spain)
Held 3 days before the parliamentary elections. As a result of four explosions in electric train carriages, 191 people were killed and 2050 passengers were injured. It is noteworthy that the explosions took place exactly 911 days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
5. Explosions in the Moscow metro (06.02.2004 and 29.03.2010, Russia)
In 2004, 41 people died and 250 were injured through the fault of a suicide bomber. In 2010, two explosions also killed 41 people and injured 88 people. Doku Umarov claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
4. Terrorist attacks in Istanbul (15.11.2003 and 20.11.2003, Turkey)
As a result of the first terrorist attack, suicide bombers in car bombs killed 25 people, injuring more than 300. Five days later, as a result of a series of explosions, another 28 people were killed and 450 were injured. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by Al-Qaeda, as well as the Islamist group of radicals, the Front of Islamic Conquerors of the Great East.
3. Terrorist attack on Dubrovka ("Nord-Ost") (23.10.2002 - 26.10.2002, Russia)
A group of armed terrorists held 916 people for several days in the building of the recreation center of JSC “Moscow Bearing”. As a result of the operation of the power structures, all the militants were eliminated. According to official statistics, 130 hostages were killed. Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the attack.
2. Terrorist attacks in Bali (12.10.2002, Indonesia)
The largest terrorist attack in Indonesian history killed 202 people, 164 of whom were foreigners.The radical organization Jemaah Islamiya was found responsible for the three explosions. Three organizers were sentenced to death.
1. The terrorist act of September 11, 2001 (11.09.2001, USA)
Responsibility for world's largest terrorist attack took over by the al-Qaeda organization. Nineteen terrorists, having seized four passenger airliners, carried out a suicide attack of unprecedented scale of cruelty. Aircraft crashes, destruction of the World Trade Center towers and damage to the Pentagon building killed 2,974 people.