The Counter Extremism Project issued the following statement to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks

Much has changed in the 15 years since terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing almost 3,000 people and injuring more than 6,000 others. The failures, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities that allowed for the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001 were identified and significant improvements in our national security apparatus were carried out.

But unfortunately, the struggle against the threat posed by extremists and their deliberate war against peace, freedom, and pluralism is far from over. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden may have been killed, but the group has survived and expanded to Yemen, North Africa, Syria, and the Indian subcontinent.

ISIS took advantage of the Syrian chaos to swiftly conquer and kill in a display of wanton brutality, violence, and hatred. And as it conquered, enslaved, and brutalized millions, mostly fellow Muslims, ISIS attracted many thousands of followers through its continued misuse of the Internet and social media platforms to spread its extremist ideology and incite violence. Attacks in Fort Hood, Orlando, San Bernardino and other places speak clearly to the relationship between online propaganda, radicalization, and murder.

Governments and the private sector both have important roles to play in combating the ideology that feeds extremism and in rallying public support for sensible ways to diminish the influence of extremists online, so that voices of reason and moderation have a place to grow.

By confronting the challenges posed by extremist groups, we continue to honor the memory of the victims of September 11 and all other victims of extremist violence.