They were the main target of the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000. They have also been attacked by al-Qaeda in other occasions, such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, the 2000 USS Cole bombing, and the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
They were the target of the 2005 London bombings, which killed 52 people and injured more than 700. They have also been attacked by al-Qaeda affiliates, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the 2017 London Bridge attack.
They were the target of the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which killed 193 people and injured more than 2,000. The bombings were claimed by a Moroccan al-Qaeda cell and were intended to influence the Spanish general election.
They were the target of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo shooting and the 2015 Paris attacks, which killed a total of 147 people and injured more than 600. The attacks were claimed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIL, respectively. They have also been attacked by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, such as the 2013 In Amenas hostage crisis.
They were the target of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi, which killed 213 people and injured more than 4,000. They have also been attacked by al-Shabaab, such as the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack and the 2015 Garissa University College attack.