A sensational revelation appears today in the Russian government press. In the run-up to the surprise attack on the twin towers in New York at 9.00am on 11 September 2001 by various terrorists, including Saudis, deployed by Al-Qaeda, the Russian FSB – running the anti-terrorist units, Alfa and Vimpel set up under Yuri Andropov in the early seventies – planned an operation to wipe out around fifty leading militants meeting in a Kabul hotel, including their leader Osama Bin Laden.

Just five hours before the attack was launched, the Russians learned that Al-Qaeda had hit the twin towers in New York. They decided to go ahead with their own operation regardless, and the story of that assault by helicopter is only now being told, by the man who led it: a Chuvash colonel (now Lt General) Nikolai Gavrilov.

Unfortunately, unknown to them, Bin Laden left the meeting just one hour before the Russian forces struck and blew up the building. His departure was completely fortuitous. Many thought the US was responsible and dismissed Washington’s denials.

Rossiiskaya gazeta, 22 August 2021:

Двадцать лет назад российские спецслужбы провели уникальную контртеррористическую операцию

Двадцать лет назад российские спецслужбы провели уникальную контртеррористическую операцию

Текст: Владимир Снегирев