January 21

Coptic Christians were murdered, scores wounded, and many shops completely destroyed, as a result of an armed raid on El Khosheh, a Coptic community in Egypt. The killers were released after serving a two-year jail sentence. 24

October 12

A bomb triggered by suicide bombers aboard a small boat tears a 40-by-40-foot hole into side of the U.S. destroyer USS Cole in Yemeni port of Aden , killing 17 sailors and injuring more than 30. U.S. officials suspect al-Qaeda. Bin Laden speaks of the ship as having sailed "to its doom" along a course of "false arrogance, self-conceit, and strength." 1,2