2011⚡ Event
Alexandria church bombing
A suicide bombing occurred outside a Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt, following a New Year service. The attack killed 23 people.
disasterreligion
What Happened in 2011?
Explore 55 historical moments from 2011 — 53 events, 2 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Events in 2011(53)
2011⚡ Event
Tucson shooting
Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a public meeting held by U.S. representative Gabby Giffords in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed and twelve others were injured.
politicslaw
2011⚡ Event
Iran Air Flight 277 crash
Iran Air Flight 277 crashed near Urmia Airport, Iran, in poor weather conditions. 78 of the 105 people on board were killed.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Arab Spring in Tunisia
Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country following violent protests, marking a significant moment in the Arab Spring.
politicswar
2011⚡ Event
Protests in Albania Turn Violent
Demonstrations against alleged corruption in the Albanian government led to the killings of four protesters in Tirana by the Republican Guard.
politicslaw
2011⚡ Event
Egyptian Revolution Begins
The Egyptian revolution began with protests on the "Day of Anger" as part of the Arab Spring. This led to the removal of President Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years of rule.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Yemeni Revolution begins
The Yemeni Revolution began on January 27, 2011, with over 16,000 protesters demanding governmental changes in Sanaa.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Hottest white dwarf documented
Astronomers documented H1504+65, a white dwarf with the hottest known surface temperature of 200,000 kelvins, on January 27, 2011.
sciencespace
2011⚡ Event
Bahraini Uprising Begins
On the Day of Rage, Bahraini youths began an uprising against the government in 55 marches across 25 locations.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Arab Spring in Bahrain and Libya
On February 17, 2011, Bahraini security forces killed four protesters in Manama. The "Day of Rage" also took place in Libya with nationwide protests against Muammar Gaddafi's government.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Belitung shipwreck artifacts exhibition
Items from the Belitung shipwreck, the largest single collection of Tang-dynasty artefacts found in one location, were first exhibited in Singapore.
explorationarts
2011⚡ Event
Christchurch earthquake
An earthquake registered 6.3 ML struck Christchurch, New Zealand, causing 185 deaths and significant damage.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Bahraini uprising protest
Tens of thousands marched in Manama, Bahrain, protesting the deaths of seven people killed by security forces.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Japan triggers a devastating tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
disasterscience
2011⚡ Event
UN Resolution 1973
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, authorizing military intervention in Libya to protect civilians during the First Libyan Civil War.
politicswar
2011⚡ Event
Operation Harmattan begins
The French Air Force launched Opération Harmattan, initiating foreign military intervention in Libya during the First Libyan Civil War.
warpolitics
2011⚡ Event
Minsk Metro bombing
A bomb exploded at the Oktyabrskaya station of the Minsk Metro in Belarus, killing 15 people and injuring over 200.
disasterpolitics
2011⚡ Event
WikiLeaks Guantanamo Bay files leak
Secret documents relating to detainees at the United States' Guantanamo Bay detention camp were released on WikiLeaks and several independent news organizations.
lawpolitics
2011⚡ Event
Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey in London. The ceremony was watched by millions worldwide.
entertainment
2011⚡ Event
Killing of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011. The operation concluded a decade-long manhunt.
warpolitics
2011⚡ Event
Canadian federal election
The Conservative Party of Canada won a majority government in the federal election held on May 2, 2011. This was their first majority government since 2006.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Earthquake strikes Lorca, Spain
An earthquake registering Mw 5.1 struck near Lorca, Spain. This was the worst earthquake to hit the region in over 50 years.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Final Episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show Aired
The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated daytime talk show in U.S. television history, was broadcast.
entertainment
2011⚡ Event
Hands Across Hawthorne rally
Residents of Portland, Oregon, held a rally called Hands Across Hawthorne in response to an attack against a gay couple.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Gedling Town F.C. Withdraws from League
The semi-professional English football club Gedling Town F.C. withdrew from league football, shortly before its dissolution.
sports
2011⚡ Event
Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand
A 6.0 Mw earthquake caused significant additional damage to Christchurch, New Zealand, which was still recovering from a previous earthquake.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
News of the World closes
The British tabloid News of the World published its last edition due to voicemail hacking allegations. This included hacking the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and victims of the 7/7 attacks.
entertainmentlaw
2011⚡ Event
Bulgaria river cruise ship sinks
The Russian river cruise liner Bulgaria sank in the Volga River during a storm in Tatarstan, resulting in 122 deaths.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion
An explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base killed 13 people, including the head of the Cyprus Navy.
disasterwar
2011⚡ Event
NASA launches Juno probe
NASA launched the Juno probe to Jupiter as part of the New Frontiers program. The spacecraft is designed to study Jupiter's composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere.
sciencespace
2011⚡ Event
2011 England riots
A series of riots broke out in several London boroughs and in cities and towns across England in response to the shooting of Mark Duggan by Metropolitan Police officers on August 6, 2011.
lawpolitics
2011⚡ Event
Virginia earthquake
A 5.8 MW earthquake struck the Piedmont region of Virginia. It was felt by more people than any other quake in U.S. history.
disaster
2011⚡ Event
Monterrey Casino Arson Attack
On August 25, 2011, fifty-two people were killed in an arson attack at a casino in Monterrey, Mexico, as part of the Mexican drug war.
wardisaster
2011⚡ Event
Chilean Air Force Aircraft Crash
Bad weather caused a Chilean Air Force aircraft to crash into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 21 people on board.
disasterwar
2011⚡ Event
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash
Yak-Service Flight 9633, carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team, crashed on take-off near Yaroslavl, Russia. 44 of the 45 people on board died.
disastersports
2011⚡ Event
Occupy Wall Street begins
Adbusters organized a protest against corporate influence on democracy at Zuccotti Park in New York City, known as Occupy Wall Street.
politicseconomics
2011⚡ Event
Mariano Rivera sets saves record
Mariano Rivera surpassed Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball's all-time career leader in saves.
sports
2011⚡ Event
US military ends 'don't ask, don't tell' policy
The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on September 20, 2011, allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly.
lawpolitics
2011⚡ Event
Mekong River massacre
Two Chinese cargo ships were attacked and their crews murdered on a stretch of the Mekong River in far northern Thailand.
lawwar
2011⚡ Event
King of Bhutan marries Jetsun Pema
The Dragon King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, married Jetsun Pema at the Punakha Dzong.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Olympus Scandal Escalates
Michael Woodford was dismissed as CEO of Olympus after uncovering financial misconduct, escalating the corporate scandal.
economicslaw
2011⚡ Event
Global Protests
Global demonstrations against economic inequality and corporate influence were held in more than 950 cities in 82 countries.
economicspolitics
2011⚡ Event
Death of Muammar Gaddafi
During the First Libyan Civil War, deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was captured by rebel forces in Sirte and killed shortly thereafter.
politicswar
2011⚡ Event
Marco Simoncelli's Fatal Crash
During the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix, Marco Simoncelli collided with two other riders, resulting in his death.
sportsdisaster
2011⚡ Event
Michael D. Higgins elected President of Ireland
Michael D. Higgins was elected President of Ireland with far more votes than any politician in the country's history.
politics
2011⚡ Event
Bid Kaneh explosion
An explosion in the Shahid Modarres missile base killed 17 members of the Revolutionary Guards, including Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a key figure in Iran's missile program.
wardisaster
2011⚡ Event
Minecraft official release
The sandbox video game Minecraft officially released version 1.0, exiting its beta phase.
technologyentertainment
2011⚡ Event
Yemen's President Saleh agrees to transfer power
After months of protests in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to transfer power to Vice President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
politics
2011⚡ Event
NATO-Pakistani Skirmish
A friendly-fire incident occurred between U.S.-led NATO forces and Pakistani security forces at two military checkposts along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border.
war
2011⚡ Event
Mars Science Laboratory Launch
NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory mission from Cape Canaveral, carrying the Curiosity rover on board.
sciencespace
2011⚡ Event
US transfers last base in Al Anbar to Iraq
The United States transferred its last base in the Al Anbar Governorate to the Iraqi government. This action marked the end of the Anbar campaign.
politicswar
2011⚡ Event
Liège attack
A man threw grenades and fired a rifle at crowds in Liège, Belgium, causing 6 deaths and injuring more than 120 others, before killing himself.
disasterwar
2011⚡ Event
Turkish airstrike on villagers
Acting on information that Kurdish militants were crossing the border from Iraqi territory, two Turkish F-16 jets fired at a group of villagers, killing 34 people.
warpolitics
Born in 2011(2)
2011🎂 Birth
Lil Bub
Birth of Lil Bub, an American celebrity cat who gained internet fame.
entertainment
Deaths in 2011(0)
No deaths recorded for 2011.
Dates in 2011
January 1January 8January 9January 14January 21January 25January 27February 14February 17February 19February 22March 11March 17March 19April 11April 22April 24April 29May 2May 11May 25May 29June 11June 13June 21July 10July 11August 5August 6August 23August 25September 2September 7September 17September 19September 20October 5October 13October 14October 15October 20October 23October 27November 12November 18November 23November 26December 7December 13December 28
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 2011?
- 2011 saw 55 notable historical moments, including 53 events, 2 famous birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 2011?
- Key events of 2011 include: Alexandria church bombing, Tucson shooting, Iran Air Flight 277 crash.
History, Delivered Daily.
Join thousands of history buffs. Get a curated 1-minute read of the day's most fascinating historical events sent straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy.