Over the years, The Simpsons has built an odd reputation for “predicting the future.” From Donald Trump’s presidency to other pop culture events, online conspiracy theories often claim the cartoon’s writers have hidden foresight. So when one of its episodes was pulled from broadcast in the wake of the September 11th terror attacks, many were quick to link it to the tragedy.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/remembering-9-11-heroes-roselle-the-guide-dog-who-led-a-blind-man-down-78-floors-1757560386032">Roselle, the guide dog who led a blind man down 78 floors on 9/11</a><h2>The episode at the centre of the theory</h2>The controversy comes from the ninth season’s opening episode, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson, first aired in September 1997. The episode followed the family’s chaotic trip to New York, much of it centred on the World Trade Centre. Critics praised it, and the show even won an Emmy for one of its original songs. But after 9/11, the episode was withdrawn from syndication because of its heavy use of the Twin Towers as a backdrop. It only returned in 2006, with edits to remove several pointed references, including a joke about Tower One.<h2>Why do people think that The Simpsons predict 9/11?</h2>Online theories often point to a scene where Lisa holds up a brochure promoting a $9 bus fare to New York. Behind the number 9, the Twin Towers are visible, making the image resemble “9/11.” This, conspiracy theorists argue, shows the series foreshadowed the attacks.<h2>What do the creators say?</h2>Showrunner Al Jean dismissed the claims in an interview with The New York Times. “There is a frame where there’s a brochure that says New York at $9 a day, and behind the nine are the twin towers,” he said. “So they look like an 11, and it looks like a 9/11. That one is a completely bizarre, strange thing,” he added.Bill Oakley, who co-wrote the episode, explained that the ad design was simply practical. “$9 was picked as a comically cheap fare. To make an ad for it, the artist logically chose to include a silhouette of NYC. I signed off on the design. It’s pretty self-explanatory. And I will grant that it’s eerie given that it’s on the only episode of any series ever that had an entire act of World Trade Centre jokes,” he said.<h2>Coincidence, not prediction</h2>Despite the theories, there is no evidence that The Simpsons “predicted” 9/11. The imagery was a coincidence, and gave fuel to the conspiracy theories due to the fact that the episode featured the Twin Towers more heavily than any other sitcom at the time.

The Simpsons faced controversy after a 1997 episode featuring the Twin Towers was pulled following 9/11. Conspiracy theories linked it to the attacks, though it was later re-aired with edits.

Over the years, The Simpsons has built an odd reputation for “predicting the future.” From Donald Trump’s presidency to other pop culture events, online conspiracy theories often claim the cartoon’s writers have hidden foresight. So when one of its episodes was pulled from broadcast in the wake of the September 11th terror attacks, many were quick to link it to the tragedy. Also read: Roselle, the guide dog who led a blind man down 78 floors on 9/11 The episode at the centre of the theory The controversy comes from the ninth season’s opening episode, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson, first aired in September 1997. The episode followed the family’s chaotic trip to New York, much of it centred on the World Trade Centre. Critics praised it, and the show even won an Emmy for one of its original songs. But after 9/11, the episode was withdrawn from syndication because of its heavy use of the Twin Towers as a backdrop. It only returned in 2006, with edits to remove several pointed references, including a joke about Tower One. Why do people think that The Simpsons predict 9/11? Online theories often point to a scene where Lisa holds up a brochure promoting a $9 bus fare to New York. Behind the number 9, the Twin Towers are visible, making the image resemble “9/11.” This, conspiracy theorists argue, shows the series foreshadowed the attacks. What do the creators say? Showrunner Al Jean dismissed the claims in an interview with The New York Times. “There is a frame where there’s a brochure that says New York at $9 a day, and behind the nine are the twin towers,” he said. “So they look like an 11, and it looks like a 9/11. That one is a completely bizarre, strange thing,” he added. Bill Oakley, who co-wrote the episode, explained that the ad design was simply practical. “$9 was picked as a comically cheap fare. To make an ad for it, the artist logically chose to include a silhouette of NYC. I signed off on the design. It’s pretty self-explanatory. And I will grant that it’s eerie given that it’s on the only episode of any series ever that had an entire act of World Trade Centre jokes,” he said. Coincidence, not prediction Despite the theories, there is no evidence that The Simpsons “predicted” 9/11. The imagery was a coincidence, and gave fuel to the conspiracy theories due to the fact that the episode featured the Twin Towers more heavily than any other sitcom at the time.

The Simpsons faced controversy after a 1997 episode featuring the Twin Towers was pulled following 9/11. Conspiracy theories linked it to the attacks, though it was later re-aired with edits.

Factcheck: Did The Simpsons predict the 9/11 attacks? Why a 1997 episode was pulled after Al-Qaeda hit World Trade Centre

#Gravitas | On Aug. 7, 1974, French Artist Philippe Petit made history by performing a high-wire walk 1,350 feet above the ground, between the Twin Towers.

Gravitas Recall: Philippe Petit Walks on a Tightrope Between Twin Towers 50 years ago

Five defendants, charged for masterminding 9/11 attacks may escape death penalty in a plea deal, CBS News has said in a report. There is a possibility that by pleading guilty to the charges, the accused may get handed long prison sentences but not the death penalty. The trials&nbsp;have stalled over the issue of access to CIA evidence. COVID-19 pandemic added more delay.

Chief defendant among the group of five is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Ramzi Binalshibh, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, Walid bin Attash and Ammar al-Baluchi are others.&nbsp;

The possibility of these accused escaping death penalty has caused great anger in families of 9/11 victims.

"The families are outraged," said Debra Burlingame, sister of Charles "Chic" Burlingame, the pilot of one of the planes that were hijacked by the terrorists.

"They don't want closure, they want justice." added Burlingame, as she spoke of angst of the families. She was quoted by CBS News.&nbsp;

Watch | 21 years on, five accused of 9/11 attacks still remain in detention centre

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However, as per the report, some families appear to be fine with the accused admitting that they are guilty, even if it means they evade the gallows.

9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows said that a guilty plea "would be partly in recognition of the torture each of the defendants experienced" and bring "some measure of judicial finality."

James Connell, lawyer for one of the accused appeared to hint at the possibility of a plea deal. He described the case as a "forever trial". He said that all the defendants were engaged in 'good faith negotiations" with the government.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-anniversary-biden-lays-wreath-in-ceremony-at-pentagon-honours-lives-lost-515189">9/11 attacks: Biden lays wreath at Pentagon to honour lost lives on 21st anniversary</a> 
 
Defendants' lawyer underline the 'interrogation' of the accused which critics say was extreme torture.

A spokesperson of military trials reportedly did not answer questions on the matter of the plea deal but confirmed that "the parties are currently engaged in preliminary plea negotiations."

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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&nbsp;

Five defendants, charged for masterminding 9/11 attacks may escape death penalty in a plea deal, CBS News has said in a report. There is a possibility that by pleading guilty to the charges, the accused may get handed long prison sentences but not the death penalty.

Five defendants, charged for masterminding 9/11 attacks may escape death penalty in a plea deal, CBS News has said in a report. There is a possibility that by pleading guilty to the charges, the accused may get handed long prison sentences but not the death penalty. The trials have stalled over the issue of access to CIA evidence. COVID-19 pandemic added more delay. Chief defendant among the group of five is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Ramzi Binalshibh, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, Walid bin Attash and Ammar al-Baluchi are others. The possibility of these accused escaping death penalty has caused great anger in families of 9/11 victims. "The families are outraged," said Debra Burlingame, sister of Charles "Chic" Burlingame, the pilot of one of the planes that were hijacked by the terrorists. "They don't want closure, they want justice." added Burlingame, as she spoke of angst of the families. She was quoted by CBS News. Watch | 21 years on, five accused of 9/11 attacks still remain in detention centre × However, as per the report, some families appear to be fine with the accused admitting that they are guilty, even if it means they evade the gallows. 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows said that a guilty plea "would be partly in recognition of the torture each of the defendants experienced" and bring "some measure of judicial finality." James Connell, lawyer for one of the accused appeared to hint at the possibility of a plea deal. He described the case as a "forever trial". He said that all the defendants were engaged in 'good faith negotiations" with the government. Also Read | 9/11 attacks: Biden lays wreath at Pentagon to honour lost lives on 21st anniversary Defendants' lawyer underline the 'interrogation' of the accused which critics say was extreme torture. A spokesperson of military trials reportedly did not answer questions on the matter of the plea deal but confirmed that "the parties are currently engaged in preliminary plea negotiations." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Five 9/11 attack accused in Guantanamo may escape death by way of plea deal: Report

Noida is a suburb on the outskirts of India's national capital, New Delhi and it is all set to witness the demolition of 2 skyscrapers, the Supertech twin towers, which will be reduced to rubble today.

India: Nearly 100 metre towers to be demolished by controlled implosion, violated regulations

Noida is a suburb on the outskirts of India's national capital, New Delhi, and within a matter of seconds, it has witnessed the demolition of 2 skyscrapers, the Supertech twin towers. The towers were reduced to rubble today with help of 3700 kg explosives.

India's twin towers demolition: Plumes of dust envelop demolition site

2 Skyscrapers near India's capital to be demolished

India: Supertech towers in Noida gets razed in controlled explosion

India: Nearly 100 metre towers to be demolished by controlled implosion in Noida

On the 20th anniversary of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-display-of-unity-biden-obama-clinton-mark-911-anniversary-in-nyc-412414">9/11 attacks</a>, US President Joe Biden defended America's troop pullout from Afghanistan asserting that there was no other way to have done it.

"If you had told anybody that we are going to spend $300 million a day for 20 years to try to unite the country after we got Bin Laden after Al Qaeda was wiped out there - could Al Qaeda come back? Yes. But guess what, it's already back in other places," the US president said.

Biden while paying tribute to victims of the fourth plane crash which crashed at Shanksville, Pennsylvania on 9/11 said that it wasn't feasible to invade and stay in all the places that Al Qaeda was present.

Watch:

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"Every place where Al Qaeda is, we're going to invade and have troops stay in? Come on. As I read it, I'm told 70 per cent of American people think it was time to get out of Afghanistan, spending all that money but the flip side of it is-&nbsp;they didn't like the way we got out but it's hard to explain to anybody - how else could you get out?"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-attacks-and-a-money-trail-how-terrorists-planned-the-devastating-attacks-412286">Also Read:&nbsp;9/11 attacks and a money trail -&nbsp;How terrorists planned the devastating attacks</a>

The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was especially poignant this time coming as it did shortly after the US ended its 20 year-long war in Afghanistan which was started by then president Bush in 2001 to root out Al Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks.

However, the chaotic evacuation in Kabul created a huge problem for the Biden administration last month as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-raise-flag-on-afghan-presidential-palace-as-us-marks-911-anniversary-412376">Taliban </a>took control of the capital.

A suicide attack at Kabul airport during the US evacuation&nbsp;led to the deaths of &nbsp;13 US service members further complicating the US pullout. The US finally pulled out of Afghanistan on midnight of August 30, a day ahead of the deadline as the last plane carrying diplomats and troops left the country.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, US President Joe Biden defended America's troop pullout from Afghanistan asserting that there was no other way to have done it.

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, US President Joe Biden defended America's troop pullout from Afghanistan asserting that there was no other way to have done it. "If you had told anybody that we are going to spend $300 million a day for 20 years to try to unite the country after we got Bin Laden after Al Qaeda was wiped out there - could Al Qaeda come back? Yes. But guess what, it's already back in other places," the US president said. Biden while paying tribute to victims of the fourth plane crash which crashed at Shanksville, Pennsylvania on 9/11 said that it wasn't feasible to invade and stay in all the places that Al Qaeda was present. Watch: "Every place where Al Qaeda is, we're going to invade and have troops stay in? Come on. As I read it, I'm told 70 per cent of American people think it was time to get out of Afghanistan, spending all that money but the flip side of it is- they didn't like the way we got out but it's hard to explain to anybody - how else could you get out?" Also Read: 9/11 attacks and a money trail - How terrorists planned the devastating attacks The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was especially poignant this time coming as it did shortly after the US ended its 20 year-long war in Afghanistan which was started by then president Bush in 2001 to root out Al Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks. However, the chaotic evacuation in Kabul created a huge problem for the Biden administration last month as the Taliban took control of the capital. A suicide attack at Kabul airport during the US evacuation led to the deaths of 13 US service members further complicating the US pullout. The US finally pulled out of Afghanistan on midnight of August 30, a day ahead of the deadline as the last plane carrying diplomats and troops left the country. (With inputs from agencies)

'Hard to explain to anybody': Biden defends US pullout from Afghanistan on 9/11 anniversary

The prosecution of alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others restarts Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, stirring new hopes for justice and retribution.

Mohammed and his co-defendants, who have been locked up at the "War on Terror" prison at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for nearly 15 years, will appear in the military tribunal here for the first time since early 2019.&nbsp;

But after a 17-month halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, the proceedings appear likely to continue where they left off, mired in the defense's efforts to disqualify most of the government's evidence as tainted by the torture the defendants underwent in CIA custody.

On Sunday, the new military judge, Air Force Colonel Matthew McCall &nbsp;-- the case's eighth -- signaled a slow start, deciding that an initial hearing focused on his own qualifications will take place on Tuesday. Lawyers for both sides are allowed in a war crimes tribunal to question a new judge for possible bias.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/freedom-tower-the-skyscraper-symbolising-new-yorks-resilience-411055">'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience</a>

The rest of the week will mostly involve meetings with the military prosecutors and defense teams.

With scores of motions lined up to demand evidence that military prosecutors refuse to hand over, defense attorneys said the pretrial phase could easily last another year, placing far over the horizon any hope for a jury trial and verdict.

Asked if the case could ever reach that point, one defense attorney, James Connell, replied, "I don't know."

Lasting impact of torture

Attorneys say the five defendants -- Mohammed, Ammar al-Baluchi, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi -- are all weak and suffer the lasting effects of severe torture endured in secretive CIA "black" sites between 2002 and 2006.

Added to that, the attorneys say, is the cumulative impact of 15 years in harsh, isolated conditions since arriving.&nbsp;

They will appear in an ultra-secure military commissions courtroom surrounded by fences of razor wire, each with his own defense team.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-911-changed-air-travel-more-security-less-privacy-411141">How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy</a>

In the audience will be family members of some of the 2,976 people they are accused of murdering two decades ago, as well as a large contingent of reporters to mark the confluence with the somber anniversary on Saturday.

The five face the death penalty on charges of murder and terrorism in the war crimes tribunal.

They are represented by attorneys assigned by the military, as well as pro-bono lawyers from the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Open and shut?

Since the case started, prosecutors have regarded it as open-and-shut, even without the tainted information reaped from the brutal CIA interrogations.

Instead, prosecutors maintain that the defendants all provided solid evidence of conspiring in the 9/11 attacks during so-called "clean-team" interrogations conducted by the FBI in 2007, after the five arrived at Guantanamo.

But defense attorneys argue that the 2007 interrogations were hardly "clean" because the FBI also took part in the CIA's torture program, and their interrogations carried a similar menace.

The defendants, still feeling the impact of torture at that time, spoke to the FBI under the real fear that it would start again, the defense contends.

"Make no mistake, covering up torture is the reason that these men were brought to Guantanamo" instead of the US federal justice system, said Connell, who represents Baluchi.

"The cover-up of torture is also the reason that we are all gathered at Guantanamo for the 42nd hearing in the 9/11 military commission," he said.

Delays

To prove their case, the defense is demanding huge amounts of classified materials that the government is resisting turning over, on everything from the original torture program to conditions at Guantanamo to health assessments.&nbsp;

Defense lawyers also want to interview dozens more witnesses, after 12 already appeared before the court, including two men who oversaw the CIA program.

The demands have delayed the trial, but the defense blames the government for actively hiding materials relevant to the case.

Alka Pradhan, another defense attorney, noted that it took the government six years to admit that the FBI took part in the CIA's torture program.

"This case wears you down," she said.&nbsp;

"They are withholding things that are normal procedure in court."

The prosecution of alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others restarts Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, stirring new hopes for justice and retribution.

The prosecution of alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others restarts Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, stirring new hopes for justice and retribution. Mohammed and his co-defendants, who have been locked up at the "War on Terror" prison at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for nearly 15 years, will appear in the military tribunal here for the first time since early 2019. But after a 17-month halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, the proceedings appear likely to continue where they left off, mired in the defense's efforts to disqualify most of the government's evidence as tainted by the torture the defendants underwent in CIA custody. On Sunday, the new military judge, Air Force Colonel Matthew McCall -- the case's eighth -- signaled a slow start, deciding that an initial hearing focused on his own qualifications will take place on Tuesday. Lawyers for both sides are allowed in a war crimes tribunal to question a new judge for possible bias. Also Read | 'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience The rest of the week will mostly involve meetings with the military prosecutors and defense teams. With scores of motions lined up to demand evidence that military prosecutors refuse to hand over, defense attorneys said the pretrial phase could easily last another year, placing far over the horizon any hope for a jury trial and verdict. Asked if the case could ever reach that point, one defense attorney, James Connell, replied, "I don't know." Lasting impact of torture Attorneys say the five defendants -- Mohammed, Ammar al-Baluchi, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi -- are all weak and suffer the lasting effects of severe torture endured in secretive CIA "black" sites between 2002 and 2006. Added to that, the attorneys say, is the cumulative impact of 15 years in harsh, isolated conditions since arriving. They will appear in an ultra-secure military commissions courtroom surrounded by fences of razor wire, each with his own defense team. Also Read | How 9/11 changed air travel: More security, less privacy In the audience will be family members of some of the 2,976 people they are accused of murdering two decades ago, as well as a large contingent of reporters to mark the confluence with the somber anniversary on Saturday. The five face the death penalty on charges of murder and terrorism in the war crimes tribunal. They are represented by attorneys assigned by the military, as well as pro-bono lawyers from the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Open and shut? Since the case started, prosecutors have regarded it as open-and-shut, even without the tainted information reaped from the brutal CIA interrogations. Instead, prosecutors maintain that the defendants all provided solid evidence of conspiring in the 9/11 attacks during so-called "clean-team" interrogations conducted by the FBI in 2007, after the five arrived at Guantanamo. But defense attorneys argue that the 2007 interrogations were hardly "clean" because the FBI also took part in the CIA's torture program, and their interrogations carried a similar menace. The defendants, still feeling the impact of torture at that time, spoke to the FBI under the real fear that it would start again, the defense contends. "Make no mistake, covering up torture is the reason that these men were brought to Guantanamo" instead of the US federal justice system, said Connell, who represents Baluchi. "The cover-up of torture is also the reason that we are all gathered at Guantanamo for the 42nd hearing in the 9/11 military commission," he said. Delays To prove their case, the defense is demanding huge amounts of classified materials that the government is resisting turning over, on everything from the original torture program to conditions at Guantanamo to health assessments. Defense lawyers also want to interview dozens more witnesses, after 12 already appeared before the court, including two men who oversaw the CIA program. The demands have delayed the trial, but the defense blames the government for actively hiding materials relevant to the case. Alka Pradhan, another defense attorney, noted that it took the government six years to admit that the FBI took part in the CIA's torture program. "This case wears you down," she said. "They are withholding things that are normal procedure in court."

Trial of accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed restarts, days before attack's 20th anniversary

For Heather Bauer, 9/11 anniversaries are about something other than the fallen Twin Towers, smoking wreckage at the Pentagon, and a crashed airliner in a Pennsylvania field.

Instead of the accepted version of events -- that Al-Qaeda conducted the attacks -- she believes the US government was primarily responsible. That is among falsehoods being promoted at various events to mark the 20th anniversary of September 11.

"I question absolutely everything now, and I wonder how much or what we have been told of history is even really true," Bauer told AFP. That includes Covid-19, which she does not believe exists.

Bauer, a Wisconsin homemaker, was 14 when the attacks left nearly 3,000 people dead.

She believed the official narrative for years, but after falling into QAnon conspiracy theories, she looked again at the 9/11 story. She now thinks the attacks were orchestrated to justify the war in Iraq that followed in 2003.

She is a devoted adherent of the 9/11 truther movement. Its members tirelessly discuss online what they see as evidence that the Twin Towers fell because of controlled demolition techniques, not because commercial planes flew into them.

Those claims were developed in incredible detail over the past 20 years, and have been debunked just as minutely by documentarians and journalists.&nbsp;

The general idea, including the oft-cited "jet fuel can't melt steel beams" argument, is to prove that some entity must have planted explosives in the towers, because they could not have collapsed so neatly from being hit by planes.

'Uniquely conspiratorial country'

In-person conferences planned by the truther community for the 20th anniversary of 9/11 will also discuss the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines.

The 17th edition of the "9/11 Truth Film Festival" will take place at an Oakland, California theater and be streamed online, featuring two documentaries related to the pandemic, including "Plandemic," a debunked documentary rife with falsehoods about the virus.

Carol Brouillet, the event's organizer and founder of the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance, said: "We have so much that we want to cover, and only eight hours."

The amount of 9/11 truther content is, as Brouillet said, enormous.&nbsp;

One of the festival's speakers, Ken Jenkins, alone has produced dozens of 9/11 DVDs, according to the event's webpage.

Conspiracy theories over 9/11 were the first to benefit from widespread internet access, spreading much faster than previous alternative interpretations of history, including about John F. Kennedy's assassination, and the Moon landings.

"America is a uniquely conspiratorial country," said Garrett Graff, a journalist and author of a book on the subject.

With the internet, he said, 9/11 truth theories were able to not only have a greater and faster reach than previous conspiracies, but also enabled those who believed in them to network far more effectively.

'Anthrax to the pandemic'

"9/11 conspiracies arrived at the precise moment where social media and online media like YouTube really began to allow people to spread these ideas in big and colorful and compelling ways," he added. 
Like Brouillet's group, the Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry will hold a conference on the 20th anniversary, and will feature a Covid-19 discussion.

The event is named "From 9/11-Anthrax to the Pandemic," in reference to letters containing the poisonous substance sent to journalists and politicians over several weeks in September 2001.

For Mick Harrison, an Indiana lawyer and the committee's litigation director, the connection between the anthrax in 2001 and the Covid-19 virus today is clear.

"Because we researched the history of US work on bioweapons for the anthrax case, we're now concerned that there may be an ongoing problem with the use of bioweapons in this country," Harrison said.

Asked about why they are fighting to overturn an established 20-year-old narrative, Bauer and Harrison both said they saw it as a civic duty.

"I'm trying to make this country better by making its government more democratic, more accountable, more transparent," Harrison said.

"9/11 is a big problem in that regard, because we still don't know the truth about what happened."

For Heather Bauer, 9/11 anniversaries are about something other than the fallen Twin Towers, smoking wreckage at the Pentagon, and a crashed airliner in a Pennsylvania field.

For Heather Bauer, 9/11 anniversaries are about something other than the fallen Twin Towers, smoking wreckage at the Pentagon, and a crashed airliner in a Pennsylvania field. Instead of the accepted version of events -- that Al-Qaeda conducted the attacks -- she believes the US government was primarily responsible. That is among falsehoods being promoted at various events to mark the 20th anniversary of September 11. "I question absolutely everything now, and I wonder how much or what we have been told of history is even really true," Bauer told AFP. That includes Covid-19, which she does not believe exists. Bauer, a Wisconsin homemaker, was 14 when the attacks left nearly 3,000 people dead. She believed the official narrative for years, but after falling into QAnon conspiracy theories, she looked again at the 9/11 story. She now thinks the attacks were orchestrated to justify the war in Iraq that followed in 2003. She is a devoted adherent of the 9/11 truther movement. Its members tirelessly discuss online what they see as evidence that the Twin Towers fell because of controlled demolition techniques, not because commercial planes flew into them. Those claims were developed in incredible detail over the past 20 years, and have been debunked just as minutely by documentarians and journalists. The general idea, including the oft-cited "jet fuel can't melt steel beams" argument, is to prove that some entity must have planted explosives in the towers, because they could not have collapsed so neatly from being hit by planes. 'Uniquely conspiratorial country' In-person conferences planned by the truther community for the 20th anniversary of 9/11 will also discuss the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines. The 17th edition of the "9/11 Truth Film Festival" will take place at an Oakland, California theater and be streamed online, featuring two documentaries related to the pandemic, including "Plandemic," a debunked documentary rife with falsehoods about the virus. Carol Brouillet, the event's organizer and founder of the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance, said: "We have so much that we want to cover, and only eight hours." The amount of 9/11 truther content is, as Brouillet said, enormous. One of the festival's speakers, Ken Jenkins, alone has produced dozens of 9/11 DVDs, according to the event's webpage. Conspiracy theories over 9/11 were the first to benefit from widespread internet access, spreading much faster than previous alternative interpretations of history, including about John F. Kennedy's assassination, and the Moon landings. "America is a uniquely conspiratorial country," said Garrett Graff, a journalist and author of a book on the subject. With the internet, he said, 9/11 truth theories were able to not only have a greater and faster reach than previous conspiracies, but also enabled those who believed in them to network far more effectively. 'Anthrax to the pandemic' "9/11 conspiracies arrived at the precise moment where social media and online media like YouTube really began to allow people to spread these ideas in big and colorful and compelling ways," he added. Like Brouillet's group, the Lawyers' Committee for 9/11 Inquiry will hold a conference on the 20th anniversary, and will feature a Covid-19 discussion. The event is named "From 9/11-Anthrax to the Pandemic," in reference to letters containing the poisonous substance sent to journalists and politicians over several weeks in September 2001. For Mick Harrison, an Indiana lawyer and the committee's litigation director, the connection between the anthrax in 2001 and the Covid-19 virus today is clear. "Because we researched the history of US work on bioweapons for the anthrax case, we're now concerned that there may be an ongoing problem with the use of bioweapons in this country," Harrison said. Asked about why they are fighting to overturn an established 20-year-old narrative, Bauer and Harrison both said they saw it as a civic duty. "I'm trying to make this country better by making its government more democratic, more accountable, more transparent," Harrison said. "9/11 is a big problem in that regard, because we still don't know the truth about what happened."

Twenty years on, pandemic gives 9/11 conspiracists fresh impetus

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

However,&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake.

In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-enforce-24-hour-curfew-during-the-five-day-eid-al-fitr-holiday-298476">Also read:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday</a>

The accidental revelation&nbsp;was spotted by&nbsp;Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News.

"When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said.

"In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added.

The declaration was made by&nbsp;Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division.

When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was&nbsp;Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah.

However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed.

This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up."

Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads:&nbsp; "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat who is suspected of directing support to two al-Qaeda hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. However, Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah's name was disclosed by mistake. In a response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims, an FBI official accidentally revealed the name of the Saudi official in a declaration by him. The lawsuit was by the families of the victims, who have accused Saudi Arabia's government of involvement in the attacks. Also read: Saudi Arabia to enforce 24-hour curfew during the five-day Eid al-Fitr holiday The accidental revelation was spotted by Michael Isikoff, the chief investigative journalist at Yahoo News. "When I noticed that the declaration included this information, I contacted the FBI for comment. Because I knew that the justice department and the Trump administration had been going to extraordinary length to keep all of this under wraps," he said. "In fact, both Attorney General William Barr and the Acting Director of the National Intelligence Richard Grennell had filed motions with the court saying that any information relating to the Saudi embassy official and all internal FBI documents about this matter were so sensitive; they were state secrets, that means if revealed they could cause damage to the national security," he added. The declaration was made by Jill Sanborn, the assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division. When requested to depose the person under oath, Sanborn's declaration said that it involved "any and all records referring to or relating to Jarrah". This was the point where it was accidentally revealed that the "third person" was Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah. However, all other background and investigative reports conducted by the FBI remain sealed. This accidental slip-up has, however, revived the questions about Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. "This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement," Brett Eagleson, a spokesman for the families, told Yahoo news. "This is a giant screw-up." Officials notified the court and withdrew the FBI's declaration from the public docket. Following that, the docket now reads: "The document was incorrectly filed in this case."

FBI accidentally reveals Saudi official link to 9/11 attacks

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