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What happened on December 22nd?
A terrorist attempt was thwarted and airport security changed forever
Matthew Jones
December 22, 2024
2001 Terrorist Attempt by the “Shoe Bomber” Is Foiled by Other Passengers
On December 22, 2001, the "Shoe Bomber,” Richard Reid, attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. Alert passengers and crew members overpowered him and prevented him from detonating the explosive. Reid, a British national who was later linked to al-Qaeda, was sentenced to life in prison. His attempted attack led to the wide adoption of new security measures requiring passengers to remove their shoes during screening.
The photo shows the explosive shoes of the 2001 "shoe bomber," Richard Reid.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on December 22:
2010 ─ US President Barack Obama signed the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” a US military policy that prevented openly gay, bisexual, or lesbian volunteers from serving in the armed forces.
1989 ─ Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu was ousted after 24 years of dictatorial rule.
1984 ─ Bernhard Goetz shot four African-Americans whom he accused of attempted robbery on a New York City subway, prompting widespread debates about both racism and gun rights.
1965 ─ The American movie Doctor Zhivago premiered and went on to win five Academy Awards, earning its place among the top 100 American films of all time.
1894 ─ Alfred Dreyfus, a French military officer, was sentenced to life in prison for acting as a German spy, before being exonerated after an investigation known as the Dreyfus Affair.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On December 22, we’re singing to:
Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887) ─ Brilliant Indian mathematician who discovered a formula for the infinite series of pi.
Ralph Fiennes (1962) ─ English actor most famous for his roles in the Harry Potter series, Schindler’s List, The English Patient, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960) ─ Famous American artist who died at the age of 27 but lives on through his paintings that sell for tens of millions of dollars.
🪦Who Died Today?
On December 22, we’re saying goodbye to:
Giacomo Puccini (1924) ─ Italian composer most famous for his operas, which included songs that live on to this day, including the renowned aria “Nessun Dorma.”
Samuel Beckett (1989) ─ Irish existentialist writer most remembered for his play Waiting for Godot, which has been performed countless times around the world.
Joe Strummer (2002) ─ Legendary punk rocker who was the lead vocalist and drummer of the extremely influential band The Clash before moving on to the Mescaleros.
How Am I Doing?
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