On this Day 1993 - World Trade Center

[jjcollins]

Incase some of you have forgot this


A suspected car bomb has exploded underneath the World Trade Center in New York killing at least five people and injuring scores more. The bombing has shocked America which had seemed immune from acts of terrorism that have plagued other parts of the world.

An emotional Mario Cuomo, New York's state governor, told journalists: "We all have that feeling of being violated. No foreign people or force has ever done this to us. Until now we were invulnerable."


It felt like an airplane hit the building


Bruce Pomper, eyewitness


The immense blast happened at 1218 local time in the Secret Service's section of the car park underneath and between what are New York's tallest buildings.

It left a gaping hole in the wall above the Path underground station. Most of those who died are believed to have been crushed by the station ceiling.

It ripped through three floors of concrete, scattering ash and debris and set off a fire that sent choking smoke and flames up through one of the 110-story "Twin Towers".


Total pandemonium

Thousands of office workers were trapped as smoke billowed up through the buildings.

With no working lifts or lighting there was total pandemonium.

People did not know whether to stay in their offices or brave the journey down via the smoke-filled stairwells.

"It felt like an airplane hit the building," said Bruce Pomper, a 34-year-old broker.

Desperate for air, some people smashed windows with office furniture.

Hundreds eventually poured out of the building gasping for air and covered in soot.

Rescue workers struggled to get oxygen to those in the upper floors. About 100,000 people work in and visit the 1,700ft towers every day - the blast happened at their busiest time.

Several people have called New York's police claiming they were behind the attack but authorities are keeping an open mind about possible suspects.


If only we could see into the future

jj........

 

[dizneykid]

I remember that day dearly. My father was working on the 6th floor when the bomb exploded. Thank God he was OK. He was an ex-police officer and using his skills, he managed to get everyone off his floor safely.

I remember driving home from work and listening to the news on the radio and hearing what had happened. I couldn't get home quick enough and get on the phone and call him. He lived in the Bronx at that time and I lived in Florida. Of course, the phone was busy, so at least I someone was home. When I finally got in touch with him, all I did was cry. Anyway, he wound up being ok, thank God.

 

[jel0511]

I remember it all too well, I was on the 98th floor of the North Tower. I'll never forget that walk down the stairs in the pitch black dark, how it took a week to get off of the soot off, the fear of what was going on. I know what I went through pales in comparision to those who were in the World Trade Center on 9/11, but it still haunts me.

 

[Laura]

Funnily enough, that was the day I landed in LaGuardia for my very first trip to NYC! A couple of days later, we were driving to board the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and went past the towers. I looked at them and I thought they were invincible, to have survived that bomb.

 

[FPgurl04]

i dont remember that day (i was only 3) but my dad was working there. thankfully, that day he took the day off because he and my mom were closing on a house. it's a good thing to remember.

 

[nativetxn]

That was a sad and frightening day. Who would have dreamed that it would be worse someday

 

[olena]

I remember the day. They finally achieved their goal on September 11th. But on that day, they missed the Capitol and White House. I wonder when they plan on trying to bring those down.....

 

[Grog]

I remember a few years after the 1993 bombing HBO (I think) did a movie about the bombing and the investigation that led to the capture of the bombers. At the very end of the movie, one of the masterminds of the attack is in handcuffs being flown past the towers in a heicopter. He looks out the window and says "next time we will bring them both down". If only we had known how prophetic a simple movie could have been. It gives me chills thinking about it.

 

[DebbieB]

On that day, a guy I work with was worried about his nephew who worked at the WTC. It took him hours to get down the stairs but he made it out OK. He was also very worried on 9/11, turned out his nephew was on a business trip in VA that day.

When you think about how long it took people to get out in 1993, it's amazing how many did in 2001. Maybe the experience of 1993 saved some lives in 2001.

On the Apprentice tonight, they had scenes flying over NYC and the Statue of Liberty. It still looks so bare without those towers.....