This day in History - The Great Fire of London (1666) and the 9/11 bombing of the US (2001)

On this day in 1666, a massive fire broke out at Pudding Lane in the City of London on the River Thames. The fire engulfed the city, especially the older wooden buildings, and spread rapidly due to strong winds and closely-packed housing.<br><br>The fire continued for four days and nights, destroying much of the city and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. The fire was finally brought under control with the help of a firebreak created by demolishing buildings in its path.<br><br>The Great Fire of London led to significant changes in building codes and firefighting practices, and it had a lasting impact on the city's architecture and infrastructure.<br><br>On this day in 2001, a coordinated terrorist attack was carried out in the United States, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people and a profound impact on global politics and international relations.<br><br>Four commercial airplanes were hijacked by terrorists affiliated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. Two of the planes were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing massive damage and fires that led to the collapse of both towers. Another plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, believed to be heading for the White House or the U.S. Capitol, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overcome the hijackers.<br><br>Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks, including the passengers and crew members of the four planes, as well as people in the buildings and on the ground. The attacks also caused extensive damage to the Pentagon and the World Trade Center site, and had a significant impact on the global economy and international relations.