Apparent' terrorism strikes in U.S.
By Jon Friedman, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 10:05 AM ET Sept. 11, 2001
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Apparent terrorist attacks caused pandemonium in New York and Washington Tuesday morning.
Early on Tuesday morning, smoke billowed out of the top floors of the World Trade Center, a business center and one of New York City's most popular tourist attractions in a horrifying scene caused by two airplanes striking Tower One, according to CNN.
Approximately an hour later, Washington, D.C., was attacked in what was feared to be another act of terrorism.
At around 9:30 a.m., Eastern time, President George W. Bush called the event an "apparent" act of terrorism. "Today, we've had a national tragedy," Bush said.
Reports circulated at about 9:43 a.m. that the White House was evacuated. Fires broke out at the Pentagon and on the mall in Washington, D.C.
The disaster at the World Trade Center occurred as New Yorkers made their way to work in the Wall Street financial district in lower Manhattan.
Airports around the U.S. were ordered to be closed.
"Everybody's panicking," an eyewitness in New York shouted on a CNN broadcast not long after the tragedy occurred, underscoring the terror and confusion throughout the morning.
There were unconfirmed media reports that there were 1,000 injuries caused by the World Trade Center event.
CNN reported that one of the airplanes was an American Airlines aircraft whose flight originated from Boston.
The tragedy shattered a typically busy day in New York, which was gearing up for a primary election between Republican and Democratic candidates for the mayor of New York.
The FBI is investigating a case of possible hijacking, according to CNN.
Speculation was rampant that the New York Stock Exchange had been evacuated, potentially throwing into jeopardy the status of trading for the session. Calls placed to the main telephone number of the World Trade Center were not answered immediately after the news broke.
"Terrorism against our nation will not stand," the President said, calling for a moment of silence. He said he would call on the "full resources" of the U.S.
The President had just arrived in Sarasota, Fla., when the horrific pictures began to appear on television.
The disasters were the worst in the U.S. since a federal building was exploded in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people. On Feb. 26, 1993, a bomb exploded in the basement garage of the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring 1,000 more.
Jon Friedman is media editor for CBS.MarketWatch.com in New York.
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