Department of Justice Seal


Remarks of Attorney General John Ashcroft

September 11, 2001


Today America has experienced one of the greatest tragedies ever witnessed on American soil.

These heinous acts of violence are an assault on the security of our nation and every American citizen.

We will not tolerate such acts and we will expend every effort and devote all necessary resources to bring the people responsible for these crimes to justice.

Now is the time for us to come together as a nation and offer our support and prayers for victims and their families, for the rescue workers and law enforcement, and for every one of us who has been changed forever by this horrible tragedy.

The following is a summary of the known facts surrounding today's incidents:

American Airlines flight 11 departed Boston for Los Angeles, was hijacked by suspects armed with knives. This plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

United Airlines flight 175 departed Boston for Los Angeles, was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center.

American Airlines flight 77 departed Washington Dulles for Los Angeles, was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon.

United Airlines flight 93 departed Newark for San Francisco, was hijacked and crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Crime scenes have been established by federal authorities in New York, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Boston, and Newark.

The full resources of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Attorneys offices, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Prisons, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Office of Justice programs, have been deployed to investigate these crimes and to assist victim survivors and victim families.

Thousands of FBI agents in all of the field offices across the country and in the international legats assisted by personnel from the other Department of Justice agencies are cooperating in this investigation.

The FBI has established a website where people can report any information about these crimes. That address is www.ifccfbi.gov.

The FBI is also in the process of establishing a toll free 800 number for the same purpose.

It takes courage to come forward in situations like this and I urge anyone with information that may be helpful to the authorities to use these resources.

The Office of Victims of Crime has established a toll free 800 for family and friends of victims. They can call 800-331-0075 to leave contact information for a future time when more information is available, to find out information about a victim or to find out information about the rights of victims and the services available to victim survivors and victim families.

The determination of these terrorists will not deter the determination of the American people. We are survivors and freedom is a survivor.

A free American people will not be intimidated or defeated. We will find the people responsible for these cowardly acts and justice will be done.