NEWSFLASH World Trade Centre NYC is on fire [Terrorist Action 11/9/2001 - Thread 2]

Reports now of car bomb also in Washington.

Car bomb was now confirmed.

Who the hell is this organized? Can we get more specific than "a Palestinian group", please?

I can see the Capitol Building from my office, but don't see any smoke coming from it (I can see monster clouds of smoke coming from the Pentagon). All federal govt. buildings in DC have been evacuated and the workers sent home.

Ten years ago: President Bush addressed Congress on the Persian Gulf crisis, vowing that "Saddam Hussein will fail" in his takeover of Kuwait.

SECOND TOWER FELL.

the capitol bldg was just evacuted as precaution. no attack there so far.

this is what I have:

Abu Dhabi television reported it had received a call from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine claiming responsibility for crashing two planes into the twin WTC towers overlooking New York harbour

the other tower has collapsed too

this is horrible

An official spokesman for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine has denied any involvement.

Gulf War finished in May of 1991 though. Oddly - and possibly not at all connected - September 1991 offers as significant effects the end of the Russian communist coup, and the start of the Yugoslavian civil war.

My sources in the Palestinian organisation which have claimed responsibilty have been ringing the BBC non-stop to say that these people are nutters and not to believe them. Palestinians aren't that dumb. However suicide bombing suggests the Middle East - that's the form.

Towers both in rubble - mainhatten covered in large thick smoke clouds - just seen TV pictures of one tower collapsing and people running up the street to escape.

it has to be bin laden. he's been threatening this forever. if i was an american abroad i'd be ringing the bell of the nearest embassy

Another hijack plane heading for Washingston, American Military plane is in pursuit. TV pictures unbelievable. You would not get this in any movie script - this is very serious.

Bin Laden couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, my middle eastern sources say - and they don't drink. Very sceptical (Bin Laden's threat has been bigged up by the US previously for US governements own ends).

Pete, Taliban - could organise it - they pay others to do the dirty work for them.

DLP - totally deny.

i agree with pete re bin laden: his org just ain't that big or effective

Bin Laden warned of "unprecedented" U.S. attack-expert
LONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he and his followers would carry out an unprecedented attack on U.S. interests for its support of Israel, an Arab journalist with access to him said on Tuesday.
Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said Islamic fundamentalists led by bin Laden was "almost certainly" behind the attack of the World Trade Center in New York.
"It is most likely the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he would attack American interests in an unprecedented attack, a very big one," Atwan told Reuters.
"Personally we received information that he planned very, very big attacks against American interests. We received several warnings like this. We did not take it so seriously, preferring to see what would happen before reporting it." Atwan has interviewed bin Laden and maintains close contacts with his followers.

another plane heading for washington, jet fighters chasing! what the fuck is going on?

Iraq - Saddam could have connections also to this evil.

could someone in uk call 07860248417 for me and just tell me dada I'm ok. I can't get a line out of this city

tell him to try us mobile

thanks

Part of Pentagon collapsed, another plane in Western Pensylavana (sp) / Pittsburgh has reportely crashed.

You can't pay people to do suicide bombings. Crashing a plane into a building = suicide bombing. Zealots & fundamentalists modus operandi.

I think the us has plenty of enemies.

You fund the groups not the individuals. the suicide people fundamentalists think they are doing an honour for their cause. Money goes to groups/ family etc.

Ed left a message on your dad's answering machine. Hope you're ok.

No disrespect to people who have been killed, but I am seriously most scared about the US retaliation for this (if it is indeed an Arab attack)

that's the main topic here too Nick, Bush is going to unleash his gung-ho dogs

facts - 50,000 people work in the World Trade Centre buildings.

As well he should, there are probably tens of thousands of people dead. Like it or not you Brits are involved too.

I'm with Nick on this. Obviously this is horrific but I am sure America will demand a response, and will that response be measured and appropriate or just increase the loss of innocent life.

DJ Martian - surely most of these had time to evacuate before towers collapsed?
Lesley, I don't know what you mean. What are you saying Bush should do?

third-hand info via new statesman: "the city" ie london financial district is being evacuated (lotsa sirens heard in angel maybe 3.oo, none since, may be unrelated)

It is is Afghanistan/ taliban behind it, will the US - launch a full scale attack on the Taliban/ Afghan islamic fundamentalist state ?

Yeah, Stock Exchange (and Canary Wharf I think) has been evacuated as a precaution.

The evacuation effort was not finished, many were trapped - the elevators were destroyed, people were having to walk. Does anyone know when the tourist decks open up? I thought they were pretty early, like at 8 - WHERE THERE PEOPLE UP TOP????! That freaks me out completely. Plus all the transport goes thru there - a grand total of *2 million people* go thru WTC every single weekday.

I am off work today ... Hoboken is a madhouse, cops and people running around like crazy. Air Force jets zooming overhead. People on the docks looking out at where the WTC was ... all train service in and out of Hoboken is shut down ... phone service intermittent, can't call my folks to tell them I'm OK

This is too fucked up for words ... I know people at the WTC

Camp David just got hit. WTF?

"It is is" = "If it is"? (sorry djm to be pedantic, but it is NOT YET A FACT that it "is" the taliban or anyone else...)

there is still profound controversy over who was behind the berlin disco bombing (which libya was bombed for) and lockerbie

(I am suddenly extremely aware of the sounds of aeroplanes as they fly over central london)

Sirens started going in Kingston about 3pm as well, presumably heading into London.

I would assume NOTHING abt who is resonsible for this. Remember the mcveigh bombing, and all the assumptins that were made then. I hope monkey-boy, or his advisers have the wisdom to realise this

Just heard from KJ mailing list - Alex in NYC is safe.

Evac plans for a building like the WTC would work on a zoning system, suitable for fire and often meaning that people in the higher areas would not get out for 20 minutes. This is assuming that everything is free from debris and structurally sound. It is impossible to make a building on that scale easy to evacuate - you just make them more fireproof. WHich does not help in a situation like this.

This is so fucked up ... I can't even think straight

I saw too too much.

If it is - correct MS that is what I meant to say.

NO clue who's resp. for this ... I'm afraid some scapegoat's gonna get blamed with or without proof ... this jack-ass is gonna start a war over this, you watch

I work in Canary Wharf. It's a kind of unofficial evacuation. You can go home if you want to. So I'm going to.

The attacks are too well orchestrated for terrorists.

Plane near Camp David, not on it. Still!

i'm absolutely not a fan of the bush administration but i'm confindent that they will not act rashly in terms of counterattacks. Nothing was ever done about the bombing of our aircraft carrier b/c we still don't know who's responsible. I think their main concern right now would be securing our cities. But not since the brits burned down the white house has there ever been this kind of attack on american soil.

I do not advocate starting a war. I advocate a systematic investigation to find out who is responsible. If the group responsible is uncovered, we should BOMB ALL HOLY FUCK OUT OF THEM.

from another mailing list

Just pulled the following off www.emergency.com, it seems some action has been anticipated since at least Friday:

"Worldwide Caution - Public Announcement

Dtd. September 7, 2001

Over the last several months, the U.S. Government has learned that U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at increased risk of a terrorist action from extremist groups. In addition, we have received unconfirmed information that terrorist actions may be taken against U.S. military facilities and/or establishments frequented by U.S. military personnel in Korea and Japan. We are also concerned about information we received in May 2001 that American citizens may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups with links to Usama Bin Ladin's Al-Qaida organization. In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. As always, we take this information seriously. U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.

U.S. citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness to reduce their vulnerability. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. In addition, American citizens are also urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times.

U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions. In addition, U.S. Government facilities have and will continue to temporarily close or suspend public services as necessary to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy.

U.S. citizens planning to travel abroad should consult the Department of State's Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets, and regional travel brochures, all of which are available at the Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov. We will continue to provide updated information should it become available. American citizens overseas may contact the American Citizens Services unit of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate by telephone or fax for up-to-date information on security conditions. In addition, American citizens in need of emergency assistance should telephone the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before visiting the Embassy or Consulate.

Department of State travel information and publications are available at Internet address: http://travel.state.gov. U.S. travelers may hear recorded information by calling the Department of State in Washington, D.C. at 202-647-5225 from their touch-tone telephone, or receive information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from their fax machine.

This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement - Worldwide Caution of June 22, 2001 to inform U.S. citizens of unconfirmed threats against U.S. military facilities, personnel and establishments frequented by U.S. military personnel. This Public Announcement expires on December 22, 2001.

See http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html for State Department Travel Warnings"

Flights involved (these are not all confirmed):

United Airlines 175 BOS-LAX (allegedly the second WTC crash)
United Airlines 93 (not sure of destination, confirmed by united.com)
At least one American Airlines flight (can't find flight #, but confirmed 164 people were lost)

There's a fourth flight, but I can't track down the info for it.

Islamic Jihad just claimed responsibility. Several Jewish friends of mine are currently arguing over whether they actually did it or not. This is in addition to anthoer Palestinian group which has claimed responsibility.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Terroristsstruck the United States Tuesday morning in harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet crashes into significant buildings.

• In the first attack, a plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapsed.

• Reports said oen plane appeared to be an American Airlines Boeing 767 that had been hijacked after take-off from Boston. American Airlines told CNN that it lost two planes in "tragic accidents," one leaving Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard, and the second leaving Washington Dulles airport with 58 passengers and six crew aboard. Both planes were en route to Los Angeles

• About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, part of which later collapsed.

• United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, crashed near Somerset, Pennsylvania -- police said initial reports indicated no survivors. It was not known if this was connected to the attacks.

• The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington evacuated.

• In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide have been stopped at their departure airports.

• All international flights were diverted to Canada.

• Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.

• President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to Washington, calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a national tragedy."

• In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New York evacuated.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was evacuated. CDC was preparing bioterrorism teams in case they become necessary.

• The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and tunnels into the city.

• New York's Bellevue Hospital was designated command central for handling the catastrophe. Several hospitals have already reported receiving victims with burns and head injuries.

• U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks.

There are I believe 110 floors in the WTC. 20 or so yYears ago, it was not rented out completely, when the city was broke. Now it is and there are loads of shops (really an entire mall) on the ground floor. Stuyvesant H.S. is within walking distance, perhaps 1/2 a mile avay. I walked down the road about an hour ago and could see both towers top 1/4 covered in grey smoke, this was shortly before the collapse I did no see that. I detest George Bush and his father, I consider it a tragedy for the majority of the American people that he got into office. But I am 100% supportive of retaliation by the US and Allies against the organization responsible for this.

But what kind of retaliation?

(apologies for duplication from the previous thread)

As you know, CNN, ABC, and all the other "biggie" websites are down right now, so if you want news online, your best bets are local news websites,international news websites (esp. in foreign languages if you can read them),local radio station websites, and news mirror sites.

If you can get into ANY radio station's live broadcast (it doesn't have to be a news broadcast) connection, you can try changing the url within the broadcast to a bigger news radio channel. (For instance, logging into a local college radio channel and then changing the URL within RealPlayer to a larger news channel.) Good luck. Take care. My thoughts are with anyone who has loved ones in the middle of this. I hope they can be located soon, safe and unharmed.

The tunnel and bridge that connect Windsor to Detroit have been shut down.

http://www.independent.co.uk/

Independent look like fastest news link at the moment.

The rank and file of Americans are not best pleased. My mother is foaming at the mouth, saying that whatever group is responsible, their nationals should be rounded up and sent back from whence they came. I told her that was a bunch of arse and the ugliest thing I had ever heard.

Grrr. Oh, Nick Momus is okay, he checked in.

DG has asked everyone to switch over to this thread please:

http://www.ilxor.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=006L Sw