Worst terrorist strikes in the United States

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 8 January 2011

Deadliest terrorist strikes in the United States

date attack and location fatalities injuries

11 Sep 2001 crashing of hijacked planes into World Trade Center, New York City, New York, Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia, and site in Pennsylvania 2,993 8,900

19 Apr 1995 truck bombing of federal building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 169 675

16 Sep 1920 bombing near bank in New York City, New York 38 300

1 Oct 1910 bombing at newspaper building in Los Angeles, California 20 20

5 Nov 2009 shooting at Soldier Readiness Center at Foot Hood, Texas 13 43

4 May 1886 bombing and riot at Haymarket Square rally in Chicago, Illinois 12 60

29 Dec 1975 bombing at airport in New York City, New York 11 75

22 Jul 1916 bombing at parade in San Francisco, California 10 40

26 Feb 1993 truck bombing of World Trade Center, New York City, New York 6 1,040

8 Jan 2011 shooting attack at political event, Tucson, Arizona 6 13

date	attack and location	fatalities	injuries
11 Sep 2001	crashing of hijacked planes into World Trade Center, New York City, New York, Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia, and site in Pennsylvania	2,993	8,900
19 Apr 1995	truck bombing of federal building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	169	675
16 Sep 1920	bombing near bank in New York City, New York	38	300
1 Oct 1910	bombing at newspaper building in Los Angeles, California	20	20
5 Nov 2009	shooting at Soldier Readiness Center at Foot Hood, Texas	13	43
4 May 1886	bombing and riot at Haymarket Square rally in Chicago, Illinois	12	60
29 Dec 1975	bombing at airport in New York City, New York	11	75
22 Jul 1916	bombing at parade in San Francisco, California	10	40
26 Feb 1993	truck bombing of World Trade Center, New York City, New York	6	1,040
8 Jan 2011	shooting attack at political event, Tucson, Arizona	6	13

Worst terrorist acts in the United States using unconventional weapons

date attack and location fatalities injuries

9 Oct 2001 anthrax-laced letters mailed to Washington, DC, USA 4 7

18 Sep 2001 anthrax-laced letters mailed to West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and New York City, New York, USA 1 10

9-19 Sep 1984 salmonella poisoning in restaurants in The Dalles, Oregon, USA 0 751

date	attack and location	fatalities	injuries
9 Oct 2001	anthrax-laced letters mailed to Washington, DC, USA	4	7
18 Sep 2001	anthrax-laced letters mailed to West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and New York City, New York, USA	1	10
9-19 Sep 1984	salmonella poisoning in restaurants in The Dalles, Oregon, USA	0	751

Terrorist attacks producing high numbers of non-fatal injuries*

* Includes attacks resulting in 300 or more injuries apart from fatalities. Note than these figures are not as consistently defined by reporting authorities. This listing is incomplete.

date attack and location fatalities injuries

11 Sep 2001 crashing of hijacked planes into World Trade Center, New York City, New York, Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia, and site in Pennsylvania, USA 2,993 8,900

26 Feb 1993 truck bombing in garage of World Trade Center, New York City, USA 6 1,040

9-19 Sep 1984 salmonella poisoning in restaurants in The Dalles, Oregon, USA 0 751

19 Apr 1995 truck bombing of federal building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA 169 675

16 Sep 1920 bombing near bank in New York City, New York, USA 34 300

date	attack and location	fatalities	injuries
11 Sep 2001	crashing of hijacked planes into World Trade Center, New York City, New York, Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia, and site in Pennsylvania, USA	2,993	8,900
26 Feb 1993	truck bombing in garage of World Trade Center, New York City, USA	6	1,040
9-19 Sep 1984	salmonella poisoning in restaurants in The Dalles, Oregon, USA	0	751
19 Apr 1995	truck bombing of federal building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA	169	675
16 Sep 1920	bombing near bank in New York City, New York, USA	34	300

Updated from "Selected Terrorist Incidents: U.S. and Abroad," version 5

Sources:

"Deadliest terrorist strikes in the United States"--see Incidents of Mass Casualty Terrorism; also Aguilera, Kristin, "Wall St. Reacts to Catastrophe, Moves Toward Recovery," 2002, Museum of American Financial History, on line [http://www.financialhistory.org/fh/2002/74-1.htm]; "The Bombing of the Los Angeles Times," Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive, on line [http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/100110_LATimesFire/100110_TheLosAngelesTimesFire_usc-edu.htm]; CBS, "The Lessons of Oklahoma," 13 April 2000, CBS News, on line [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/04/13/national/main183825.shtml]; CHS, "The Dramas of Haymarket," Chicago Historical Society, on line [http://www.chicagohistory.org/dramas/act2/act2.htm]; "San Francisco's Future," Museum of the City of San Francisco, on line [http://www.sfmuseum.org/loc/prepday.html]; "Terrorism Chronology," 2004, Australian Broadcast Corporation, on line [http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s368066.htm].
"Significant terrorist acts using unconventional weapons"--see Review of Fall 2001 Anthrax Bioattacks; also Center for Non-Proliferation Studies, on line; Cameron, Gavin, "WMD Terrorism in the United States: The Threat and Possible Countermeasures," spring 2000, The Nonproliferation Review, on line, Center for Nonproliferation Studies [http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/]; Inglesby, Thomas V., et ali, "Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, 2002, Updated Recommendation for Management," 2002, JAMA, 287:2236-2252, on line at [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/287/17/2236]; Mickolus, Edward F., Transnational Terrorism: A Chronology of Events, 1968-1979, 1980, Greenwood Press (Westpoint, CT); Rosenberg, Barbara Hatch, "Analysis of the Anthrax Attacks," 2002, on line, Federation of American Scientists [http://www.fas.org/bwc/news/anthraxreport.htm]; Torok, T. J., et ali, "A large community outbreak of salmonellosis caused by intentional contamination of restaurant salad bars," Aug. 1997, JAMA, 278:389-395.
"Terrorist attacks producing high numbers of non-fatal injuries"--see Worst terrorist strikes worldwide

© 2000-2010, 2011 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 8 January 2011.
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