A French publisher has apologised after a book included a debunked conspiracy theory saying the 11 September 2001 attacks were “no doubt orchestrated by the CIA”.

The history textbook, History of the 20th Century in Flash Cards by Jean-Pierre Rocher, was intended for undergraduate students.

During a chapter explaining conflicts in the Middle East, the book describes the creation of al-Qaeda and the ”quadruple terrorist attack of 11/9 2001 on New York and Washington”.

On page 204, the author adds: ”This global event – without doubt orchestrated by the CIA (secret services) to impose American influence on the Middle East? – hit the symbols of American power on its own territory.”

The book’s publisher, Ellipses, said the phrase should not have appeared in the book and the author wanted to delete the sentence.

Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Show all 30 1 /30 Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Thousands of photographs taken at Ground Zero in the wake of the 9/11 attacks have come to light after they were purchased at an estate auction. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The photographs were shot among the rubble of the World Trade Centre towers during the clean-up operation between September and October 2001. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Unseen by the public since 2001, the pictures have emerged as they were bought by an archivist couple at the auction of a private estate. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks “My significant other acquired them at an estate sale as we collect & archive vintage media for public benefit,” says Dr Johnathan Burgess. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The 2389 pictures were held on five CDs which Dr Burgess passed along to fellow archivist Jason Scott, who uploaded them to his Flickr page. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The photographer behind the pictures is unknown but Dr Burgess and Scott are working to identify them. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are seen following the attack that led to the building's collapse. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are sprayed with water as part of the clean-up operation following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The steel frames of a World Trade Centre tower are seen following the attack that led to the building's collapse. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to demolish the remaining sections of building left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks The Winter Garden Atrium is seen covered in debris. The building is nearby to the site of the former World Trade Centre buildings and was badly damaged when they collapsed. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Clouds of dust rise as contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks A tribute message is hung above a US flag on the AmEx tower which was damaged in the collapse of the nearby World Trade Centre towers following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors take a break during the clean-up operation following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Dust rises as contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott Unseen 9/11 pictures show Ground Zero in wake of attacks Contractors work to clear the debris left after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed following the 9/11 attacks. Jason Scott

“This phrase, which echoes conspiracy theories devoid of any factual basis, should never have been used in this book,” the publisher said in a statement.

“It does not reflect the editorial line of Ellipses or the position of its author.”

The publisher said it would also add a correction slip to the books which had not yet been sent to bookshops, the BBC reported.

The conspiracy theory was noticed by a secondary school teacher whose daughter bought a copy of the textbook.

After the teacher shared his concerns about the statement with a teachers’ group on Facebook, its spokesman, Bruno Modica, told Le Monde “it blew up very quickly”.

Mr Modica said: “There were 122 comments; this inserted clause of his conveys a conspiracy theory you can hear in our classrooms, from some pupils’ mouths; but to find it written by a teacher and in this type of publication is unacceptable.”

The website Conspiracy Watch criticised the segment, which it said “misleadingly suggests” there was a historical controversy about the terror attacks.

It cited an Ifop poll carried out in December 2018 which found 21 per cent of those under 35 agreed with the idea that the US government was involved in the attacks, saying this was the age group the book was intended for.

The site said the author had said he “does not support conspiracy theories at all” and recognised the ambiguity of the sentence was “confusing” and “escaped” him during proof reading.

It comes as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the man accused of being the mastermind behind the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon (one of the hijacked planes crashed in a field in Pennsylvania).