Terrorists declared war Tuesday on the United States when they attacked the most prominent symbols of American military and financial might - the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
As of midnight Tuesday, several hundred deaths were reported, including 266 airplane passengers and at least 100 at the Pentagon. Some news reports have said the death toll at the Washington landmark could be as high as 800. An additional 300 firefighters are feared dead by a union leader, and several dozen police officers are missing. Crews have not begun to estimate the death toll at the World Trade Center, where 50,000 people work and several thousand more visit each day.
The chaos began at approximately 7:45 Tuesday morning when a hi-jacked jet crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Thick black smoke began to rise from the burning building when a second plane slammed into the south tower 20 minutes later. People all over the nation watched live as the second plane hit its mark.
About an hour later, another plane struck the Pentagon, causing part of the building to catch fire and collapse. Another jet crashed in Somerset County, Penn., about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It is reported that all four hi-jacked jets were controlled by terrorists armed with knives.
Some frantic passengers aboard the doomed jets called loved ones to tell them what was happening. A passenger on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania called 911 on a cell phone while locked in the plane’s bathroom.
American Airlines reported it lost two planes heading toward Los Angeles, one from Boston and one from Washington. American Flight 11 carried 81 passengers and 11 crew and American Flight 77, a Boeing 757, carried 58 passengers and six crew.
United Airlines reported it lost the other two planes. United Airlines Flight 93 headed to San Francisco from Newark, N.J., was confirmed as the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles with 56 passengers and seven crew was the jet that crashed into the south tower.
For the first time in the nation’s history all air travel was suspended, stopping the 30,000 to 40,000 flights that take off from American airports every day.
At 9:05 a.m. the gigantic, 110-story south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. Roughly 20 minutes later, the 1,300-foot tall north tower collapsed, blanketing Manhattan with a cloud of smoke and dust. Seven hours later, at 4:20, the 47-story building seven of the World Trade Center collapsed.
Police sources said some people trapped in the buildings had called family members or rescue workers. They also reported police trapped in the building radioed to others outside.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was visibly shaken over the event.
“The number of casualties will be more than most of us can bear,” he said.
While government officials still are not certain if the attacks were carried out by domestic or foreign entities, experts believe the mastermind behind the terror campaign is Saudi exile Osama Bin Laden.
“Most likely it is Osama Bin Laden, who is responsible for several acts of terrorism against the U.S.,” said Dr. Kenneth Holland, professor of political science. “(Bin Laden) has the means. For example, he is sheltered by the government of Afghanistan and he has billions of dollars he has accumulated through the international drug trade.”
Holland also said Bin Laden has the intelligence network and volunteers needed to carry out suicide attacks like the ones witnessed yesterday.
“What motivates them is their religious beliefs,” Holland said. “They think that they will go to heaven by striking at the United States.”
Bin Laden has been accused of planning the deadly 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. The latter attack killed six and injured about 1,000.
Holland also said that yesterday is considered by some to be an important date for Muslims and the more radical elements within the faith.
Sept. 11 is the anniversary of the death of Mohamed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. According to Holland, after Great Britain pulled out of India in 1947, the country was divided along religious lines between the Hindus and Muslims. Pakistan was created for the Muslims while the Hindus remained in India.
“This is known as Jinnah Day to Muslims throughout the world,” Holland said. “Muslims all over the world look at this as a day of independence.”
During a televised national address from the Oval Office, President George W. Bush attempted to reassure the nation and vowed to bring the guilty to justice.
“Terrorists attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America,” Bush said. “These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
In a possible message to members of the government of Afghanistan, Bush said he will “make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.”
Bush went on to say Tuesday was a day “when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.”
