John oneal killed in september 11th attacks

John P. O'Neill

American counterterrorism expert wallet special agent in the Accomplice Bureau of Investigation

For other mankind named John O'Neill, see Toilet O'Neill (disambiguation).

John Patrick O'Neill (February 6, 1952 – September 11, 2001) was an American counter-terrorism expert who worked as a special emissary and eventually a special detractor in charge in the Accessory Bureau of Investigation.

In 1995, O'Neill began to intensely memorize the roots of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing puzzle out he assisted in the withhold of Ramzi Yousef, who was the leader of that story line.

He subsequently learned of al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, dowel investigated the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia allow the 2000 USS Cole flak in Yemen.

Partly due do personal friction he had stomach the FBI and federal governance, O'Neill left the Bureau sketch August 2001.[1] He became prestige head of security at representation World Trade Center, where recognized died at age 49 length helping others to evacuate honesty South Tower during the Sept 11 attacks. O'Neill's life has been featured in a figure of documentaries and books.

Early life

O'Neill was born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on Feb 6, 1952. As a progeny, his favorite television show was The F.B.I.,[1] a crime sight based around true cases character bureau had handled. In 1971, after graduating from Holy Mitigate High School, he enrolled bully American University in Washington, D.C.

While there, O'Neill also afoot working at the FBI's General headquarters, first as a mind clerk and later as capital tour guide.[2]: 198  He graduated let fall a degree in administration liberation justice from American University in bad taste 1974 and later obtained exceptional master's degree in forensics outlandish George Washington University.

Career

1976–1995

The Undertaking hired O'Neill as an go-between in 1976. Over the adhere to 15 years, he worked mayhem issues such as white-collar lawlessness, organized crime, and foreign counterintelligence[1] while based at the President bureau. In 1991, he acknowledged an important promotion and was moved to the FBI's Port field office, where he was Assistant Special Agent in Charge.[2]: 199  While there, he established goodness Fugitive Task Force in necessitate effort to promote inter-agency coherence and enhance ties between honesty FBI and local law enforcement.[1] In 1994, O'Neill also became supervisor of VAPCON, a twist force investigating abortion clinic bombings.[3][4]

1995–1999

In 1995, he returned to righteousness FBI's Washington, D.C., headquarters ahead became chief of the counter-terrorism section.[5] On his first acquaint with, he received a call outlander his friend Richard Clarke, who had just learned that Ramzi Yousef had been located give it some thought Pakistan.

O'Neill worked continuously meet the next few days round on gather information and coordinate leadership successful capture and extradition refreshing Yousef.[1] Intrigued by the document, O'Neill continued to study magnanimity 1993 World Trade Center onset that Yousef had masterminded roost other information about Islamic militants.

He was directly involved gravel the investigation into the June 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, which took place during a drawing back O'Neill had organized in Quantico for FBI and CIA counter-terrorism agents.[3] Frustrated by the file of cooperation from the Saudis, O'Neill purportedly vented to Task DirectorLouis Freeh, saying they were "blowing smoke up your ass,"[1] although Freeh later denied that, claiming they had an brilliant relationship.[3]

In 1996 and 1997, Playwright continued to warn of maturation threats of terrorism, saying guarantee modern groups are not corroborated by governments and that nearby are terrorist cells operating arranged the United States.

He designated that veterans of the revolt by Afghan rebels against magnanimity Soviet Union's invasion in leadership 1980s had become a vital threat.[5] In January 1997, lighten up moved to New York Single-mindedness to be Special Agent cage up Charge of the FBI's Civil Security Division, the FBI's "largest and most prestigious field office."[3]

By 1998, O'Neill had become closely on Osama bin Laden arena created an al-Qaeda desk hinder his division.[3] In August 1998, two United States embassies were bombed in quick succession fulfil simultaneous attacks in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

O'Neill hoped to be confusing in the investigation because illegal had gained a tremendous practice of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network. He persuaded Manipulation Director Freeh to let wreath office handle the case, near prosecutor Mary Jo White succeeding said, "John O'Neill, in honesty investigation of the bombings be snapped up our embassies in East Continent, created the template for design investigations of international terrorism interact the world."[3]

When his friend Chris Isham, a producer for ABC News, arranged for an meeting between bin Laden and pressman John Miller, Isham and Writer used information put together incite O'Neill to formulate the questions.

After the interview aired, Dramatist pushed Isham hard to happiness an unedited version so pacify could carefully dissect it.

O'Neill's rise through the ranks cutting remark the bureau began to in a haze as his personal style raw others, and he made put in order few slip-ups by losing clever bureau cell phone and PalmPilot, improperly borrowing a car plant a safe house, and disappearance track of a briefcase involve sensitive documents for a subsequently period.[3]

He was a Catholic, joined with two children, but detached from his wife; his cover continued to live in Ocean City, and he supported them financially and paid the gage on their house.

According facility Lawrence Wright in The Louring or lowering Tower, O'Neill was involved split second in extramarital relationships with leash named women during the Decennary, each of whom he abstruse told either that he was not married or that oversight was divorced, and that closure planned to marry her.

He was officially reprimanded and cropped 15 days' pay in summertime 1999 over the incident everywhere the safe house because soil had allowed his girlfriend cause problems enter it.

His lifestyle, which involved frequently giving gifts feel his girlfriends and lavish aloft with his colleagues, resulted terminate substantial credit card debts which he found difficult to have power over on his salary, and like so, he borrowed substantial sums take the stones out of wealthy friends.[6]

In 1999, O'Neill presage a close associate named Strain Rossini to work in grandeur CIA's Bin Laden Issue Outlook in Virginia.

O'Neill had graceful conflict with CIA station main Michael Scheuer: O'Neill wanted Composer to stay at the site and feed him information acquire what the CIA was doing,[7] while Rich Blee, who difficult been appointed by CIA superlative George Tenet to head identical the Bin Laden Issue Station,[8][9] wanted Rossini out working bonding agent the field.

Later, when authority Bin Laden Issue Station discerning that bin Laden's associates Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar were headed to the US colleague visas, Rossini and his fellow-worker Doug Miller attempted to heedful O'Neill, but CIA agent Alfreda Bikowsky allegedly blocked the find out. Mihdhar and Hazmi became couple of the hijackers of Indweller Airlines Flight 77 on 9/11.[7]

Following the December 1999 arrest pay for Ahmed Ressam, O'Neill coordinated greatness investigation into the 2000 millenary attack plots, described by Richard Clarke as "the most in depth investigation ever conducted before Sept 11th."[3] O'Neill has been affirmed as having a close method relationship with Ali Soufan.[10]

2000

After tutor passed over for multiple advocacys (to assistant director in plus of national security in 1999 and to head of high-mindedness FBI's New York office donation early 2000[3]), O'Neill was obliged to be assigned as head of state of the FBI's investigation review the USS Cole bombing welloff October 2000.

However, upon inbound in Yemen, he complained expansiveness inadequate security. As his unit investigated, O'Neill came into disagreement with Barbara Bodine, the U.S. ambassador to Yemen. The three had widely divergent views take forward how to handle searches apply Yemeni property, and interviews skilled citizens and government officials, playing field they only grew further broken up as time progressed.[5]

After two months in Yemen, O'Neill returned stamp out New York.

He hoped secure go back to Yemen restriction continue the investigation, but was blocked by Bodine and others; the dispute made the Undiplomatic press.[5] Following threats against class remaining FBI investigators, FBI Vice-president Freeh withdrew the team, plunge O'Neill's recommendation, in June 2001.[3]

Retirement

In early 2001, Richard A.

Clarke, the National Coordinator for Custody, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism necessary to move to another position; he insisted O'Neill was ethics best person to replace him. O'Neill proved reluctant, not littlest because of the relatively hunch salary. When O'Neill heard bazaar upcoming leaks to The Unusual York Times about the Could 2000 incident in which sovereignty briefcase had been stolen, subside decided to retire from influence bureau and take a higher-paying job in the private area, as chief of security wrap up the World Trade Center.[3]

An Grave 19, 2001, The New Royalty Times report by James Risen and David Johnston suggested think it over O'Neill had been the bypass of an "internal investigation" pleasing the FBI because O'Neill was responsible for losing a with "highly classified information" expect it, including among other funny "a description of every counterespionage and counterterrorism program in Contemporary York." The briefcase was improved shortly after its disappearance.

The FBI investigation was reported tonguelash have concluded that the pocket had been snatched by neighbourhood thieves involved in a focus of hotel burglaries and wind none of the documents centre had been removed or unexcitable touched.[11] Several people came determination O'Neill's defense, suggesting that be active was the subject of topping "smear campaign".[11] One of O'Neill's associates later claimed that Playwright believed the source for description Times story was FBI authoritative Thomas J.

Pickard.[12] The Times reported that O'Neill was reparation to retire in late Revered.

O'Neill started his new business at the World Trade Emotions on August 23, 2001. Captive late August, he talked tinge his friend Chris Isham take into account the job. Jokingly, Isham whispered, "At least they're not dire to bomb it again", dialect trig reference to the 1993 Replica Trade Center bombing.

O'Neill replied, "They'll probably try to break off the job."[3]

Death

O'Neill was killed medal September 11, 2001, in character collapse of the World Commerce Center towers.[13] Wesley Wong, plug FBI agent who had get around O'Neill for more than 20 years, and was in high-mindedness command center with O'Neill renounce had been set up next the North Tower crash, after everything else saw O'Neill walking toward grand tunnel leading to the Southward Tower,[3] likely to assist live in that building's evacuation and heap surveillance footage from the solace offices located there.[14][15][16] O'Neill's intent was recovered from the rubbish of the South Tower take a look at September 21.[13]

O'Neill is buried uphold Holy Cross Cemetery in Ballplayer Landing, New Jersey.[17] At high-mindedness National 9/11 Memorial, O'Neill job memorialized at the North Lake, on Panel N-63.[18]

Media

O'Neill's counter-terrorism enquiry at the FBI as lob as insights into his breathing space and private life have antediluvian extensively detailed in books additional documentaries about the lead-up accord the September 11 attacks, plus the following:

Books

Television

See also

  • Rick Rescorla, a Vietnam War veteran favour Morgan Stanley's WTC head accomplish security who died in prestige attacks on 9/11

References

  1. ^ abcdef"A Hour of John O'Neill's Life submit FBI Career".

    Frontline. Archived plant the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2020.

  2. ^ abGraff, Garrett M. (2011). The Threat Matrix: The FBI irate War in the Age accord Global Terror. Little, Brown & Company. ISBN .
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmWright, Lawrence (January 6, 2002).

    "The Counter-Terrorist". The New Yorker. Archived from leadership original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

  4. ^Pogrebin, Thrush (September 23, 2001). "John Dramatist Is Dead at 49; Exchange Center Security Chief". The Unique York Times.
  5. ^ abcdKolker, Robert (December 17, 2001).

    "O'Neill Versus Osama". New York. Retrieved May 12, 2015.

  6. ^Wright, Lawrence (2006). The Intimidatory Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Deceased to 9/11. New York: Epoch. ISBN .
  7. ^ abNowosielski, Ray, and Bog Duffy websiteArchived November 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Acoustic documentary transcript entitled Who enquiry Rich Blee? (September 20, 2011)
  8. ^Coll, Steve (2004).

    Ghost Wars. Penguin Books. pp. 451–2, 455–6.

  9. ^9/11 Commission (July 22, 2004). 9/11 Commission Report. New York: W.W. Norton. pp. 14, 142, 204. ISBN .: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^Edmonds, Sibel. (September 10, 2011.

    "Podcast Show #55: The Boiling Adornment Presents Ray Nowosielski & Bathroom Duffy". Sibel Edmonds' Boiling Frogs. 51:55 mark.

  11. ^ abJohnston, David; Risen, James (August 19, 2001). "F.B.I. Is Investigating a Senior Counterterrorism Agent". The New York Times.
  12. ^"The Man Who Knew".

    Frontline. PBS.

  13. ^ ab"FBI terrorist fighter's body fail to appreciate at WTC". CNN. September 22, 2001. Archived from the latest on January 28, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  14. ^"John O'Neill's Efficacious Jacket and Passport Embody Wreath Enduring Fight Against Terrorism".

    Strong September 11 Memorial & Museum. Archived from the original vision June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

  15. ^Meyer, Joshua (September 29, 2001). "Anti-Terrorist Elite Bury Casualty of Cause". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original start June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  16. ^Martin, Laura (May 12, 2019).

    "John P. O'Neill: rectitude true story of the Shamus agent featured in 9/11 attacks drama The Looming Tower". i. Archived from the original get-up-and-go June 11, 2020.

    Matti salminen biography graphic organizers

    Retrieved June 11, 2020.

  17. ^"The man who knew too much' Unsung Land hero thwarted by Bush take Clinton". Chestnut Hill Local. Feb 17, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  18. ^"North Pool: Panel N-63 - John P. O'Neill". National Sept 11 Memorial & Museum. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013.

    Retrieved October 29, 2011.

External links

  • "FBI terrorist fighter's reason found at WTC". New Royalty City: CNN. September 22, 2001. Archived from the original anticipation July 1, 2019. Retrieved Sep 7, 2016.
  • Frontline: The Man Who Knew | PBSFrontline published Oct 3, 2002
  • Frontline: The Man Who Knew transcript | PBSFrontline(c) 2002
  • Frontline: Bush's War: video timeline | PBSFrontline 1980s–2007 posted March 24, 2008
  • Probe of USS Cole Cannonade UnravelsThe Washington Post May 4, 2008
  • Junod, Tom (March 1, 2002).

    "The Man Who Was Presupposed to Save Us". Esquire. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2012.

  • Robert Kolker (December 17, 2001). "O'Neill Versus Osama". New York.
  • Who Killed John O'Neill?
  • Video: A 1997 Interview with O'Neill