Major Events of September 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 2004 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 2004 Beslan School Hostage Crisis: Chechen terrorists launched a devastating terrorist attack by taking between 1,000 and 1,500 people hostage, predominantly children, at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. The terrorists demanded the release of imprisoned Chechen militants and independence for Chechnya from Russia.
02 Sep 2004 Beslan School Hostage Crisis: A critical hostage situation unfolds in Beslan, North Ossetia, with over 1,300 children and adults held captive. Russian authorities are cautious about using force, while Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denies involvement. Late in the afternoon, 26 children and women are released.
03 Sep 2004 Beslan School Massacre: On September 3, 2004, Russian special forces ended a horrific hostage crisis at a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. The tragic event resulted in at least 335 deaths, including 156 children, and over 700 people were injured. The siege involved approximately 40 hostage-takers who were ultimately killed during the rescue operation.
04 Sep 2004 Hurricane Frances Threatens Florida: 2.25 million Florida residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to Hurricane Frances, which has already struck the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. Frances, a Category Two hurricane of significant strength, is expected to approach Florida's east coast by late tonight or early tomorrow morning.
05 Sep 2004 Major Earthquakes Strike Western Japan: Two powerful earthquakes hit western Japan on the same day, with magnitudes of 6.9 and 7.3 on the Richter scale. Tsunami warnings were issued for the Pacific coast, with potential wave heights between 3-7 feet.
06 Sep 2004 U.S. Marines Killed in Fallujah Ambush During Iraq Conflict: On September 6, 2004, a significant military engagement occurred near Fallujah, Iraq. Seven U.S. Marines were killed and three Iraqi soldiers were wounded during an ambush. In response, U.S. troops, supported by aircraft and Iraqi forces, launched a strategic raid on Najaf. The U.S. military instructed residents to evacuate the area as they executed a pincer movement aimed at capturing the Mahdi army in the city center and targeting Moqtada al-Sadr's location.
07 Sep 2004 1,000th U.S. Combat Death in Iraq: Intense fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City results in at least 34 casualties, including one American soldier. This death marks a grim milestone: the 1,000th U.S. combat fatality in the Iraq War.
08 Sep 2004 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Struck Down: A federal judge in Nebraska declared the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional, citing a lack of provisions to protect the mother's health. This was the third such ruling in a month, suggesting potential Supreme Court intervention.
09 Sep 2004 U.S. Declares Genocide in Darfur: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell officially declared the actions of the Janjaweed Arab militia in Darfur as genocide. Powell held the Sudanese government responsible for the ethnic violence that had displaced up to 50,000 ethnic Africans into refugee camps in Chad.
10 Sep 2004 First Image of Extrasolar Planetary System: Chilean astronomers claimed to have captured the first image of a planetary system outside our solar system. The system, designated 2M1207, is located 230 light-years away and is smaller and fainter than our Sun.
11 Sep 2004 Third Anniversary of 9/11 Remembrance: Americans commemorated the third anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush observed a moment of silence on the White House South Lawn, honoring the victims and remembering the national tragedy.
12 Sep 2004 Intense Violence in Iraq: A day of significant conflict in Iraq marked by extreme violence, with at least 110 Iraqis killed. The U.S. military launched offensive operations to reclaim insurgent-held territories before the upcoming January elections. Notable incidents included an attack on journalists and military engagements in multiple cities including Baghdad, Ramadi, Tal Afar, and Hilla.
13 Sep 2004 Colin Powell Denies Iraq-9/11 Connection: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell publicly states there is no connection between Saddam Hussein's regime and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and comments on potential presidential response to terrorism.
14 Sep 2004 DUPE: Baghdad Car Bomb Attack: A car bomb attack on the police building in Haifa Street, Baghdad, resulted in multiple explosions and mortar fire. The Health Ministry reported significant casualties, with the area devastated and rescuers pulling bodies from destroyed market stalls.
15 Sep 2004 Hurricane Ivan Evacuation: The United States issues widespread evacuation orders as Hurricane Ivan approaches the Gulf Coast, with New Orleans facing significant risk of catastrophic flooding due to potential levee breaches.
16 Sep 2004 Hurricane Ivan Devastates Gulf Coast: Hurricane Ivan made a catastrophic landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread destruction along the Gulf Coast. The storm brought intense winds of up to 120 mph and a historic storm surge that severely impacted Baldwin County, Alabama, and Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida.
17 Sep 2004 Beslan School Massacre Claim: Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the Beslan school massacre, stating it was committed by a 'martyr brigade' from Riyadus–Salikhin, which he leads.
18 Sep 2004 UN Resolution on Darfur Conflict: The United Nations Security Council passed a critical resolution threatening Sudan with potential sanctions if they fail to halt the activities of Arab militias in Darfur. The resolution was passed with 11 votes in favor, with Algeria, Russia, and Pakistan abstaining, signaling international concern over the humanitarian crisis.
19 Sep 2004 Iran Defies UN Nuclear Resolution: Iran rejected a unanimous United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency resolution demanding a halt to uranium enrichment activities. The country threatened to obstruct UN nuclear inspections, escalating international tensions over its nuclear program.
20 Sep 2004 Eugene Armstrong Beheaded by Militant Group in Iraq: In a brutal act of terrorism, the Tawhid and Jihad militant group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi beheaded American hostage Eugene Armstrong. The group threatened to kill two additional hostages - American Jack Hensley and British citizen Kenneth Bigley - if their demands were not met.
21 Sep 2004 Hostage Execution in Iraq: The Tawhid and Jihad militant group, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, beheaded American hostage Jack Hensley and threatened further executions, highlighting the extreme violence during the Iraq conflict.
22 Sep 2004 Interpol Anti-Terrorism Conference in Burkina Faso: Interpol officials and experts from 19 countries convene in Burkina Faso to develop a comprehensive strategy for combating terrorism and criminal activities across Africa, demonstrating international cooperation in regional security.
23 Sep 2004 Hurricane Jeanne Devastates Haiti: Hurricane Jeanne caused catastrophic flooding in Haiti, resulting in massive loss of life. Over 1,070 people were killed, with government estimates suggesting the final death toll could reach 2,000. The disaster affected approximately 175,000 Haitians, causing widespread destruction and humanitarian crisis.
24 Sep 2004 Nova Scotia Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: The Nova Scotia Supreme Court overturned a provincial law prohibiting same-sex marriage, becoming the sixth Canadian province/territory to legalize same-sex unions. The federal government and provincial authorities did not contest the court challenge.
25 Sep 2004 U.S. Military Strike in Fallujah: U.S. military strikes in Fallujah, Iraq, destroyed several buildings. Despite military claims of no civilian casualties, a hospital official reported at least eight deaths, and television broadcasts showed civilian survivors, including an infant rescued from a burned building.
26 Sep 2004 Powell Warns of Deteriorating Iraq Situation: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell publicly acknowledged the worsening situation in Iraq and outlined efforts to disrupt potential upcoming elections, highlighting the complex geopolitical challenges.
27 Sep 2004 Virgin Group Launches Commercial Space Flight Venture: Virgin Group announced a strategic joint venture with Mojave Aerospace Ventures to develop VSS Enterprise, marking a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight. The new company, Virgin Galactic, aims to make space travel accessible to private citizens.
28 Sep 2004 North Korea Announces Nuclear Weapons Production: North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hon made a significant announcement at the UN General Assembly, revealing that North Korea has converted plutonium from 8,000 spent fuel rods into nuclear weapons. The stated purpose was to create a deterrent against potential U.S. nuclear threats. Six-nation talks on the nuclear issue were suspended, with analysts believing North Korea intentionally paused negotiations until after the U.S. presidential election in November.
29 Sep 2004 SpaceShipOne Completes First Ansari X Prize Flight: Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne successfully completed the first of two required flights for the Ansari X Prize competition, reaching an altitude of approximately 109.1 km (358,000 ft) in Mojave, California, despite experiencing a minor roll problem.
30 Sep 2004 First 2004 U.S. Presidential Debate: The first presidential debate of the 2004 U.S. election took place at the University of Miami, featuring incumbent President George W. Bush and challenger Senator John F. Kerry. Nielsen Media Research reported significant viewership, indicating high public interest in the electoral contest.