September 11, 2001

5:58 AM

Plane crashes in to the word trade center. Apologies for not linking to anything besides the main CNN page but there are no full stories on this yet. The plane crashed into the building about six minutes ago, from what the TV is saying. We are about sixty blocks north and we can see the smoke over the skyline.
posted by karen (491 comments total)

oops looks like i missed it by a minute.
posted by karen at 6:00 AM on September 11, 2001

I missed it by two. That doesn't look good.
posted by rcade at 6:01 AM on September 11, 2001

Just as an FYI, it's New York City, not Chicago.
posted by karen at 6:03 AM on September 11, 2001

I'm looking at it right now (we can see the WTC from our office) and it looks like a second plane just hit the second tower (we just saw it happen). I can't confirm it but it's absolutely crazy...
posted by TNLNYC at 6:06 AM on September 11, 2001

Cnn link to the developing story.
posted by karen at 6:08 AM on September 11, 2001

I was just watching the news report, and saw a second plane zoom right on in and hit the East Tower.
posted by iceberg273 at 6:11 AM on September 11, 2001

Just saw that too. Amazing. You see the plane impact one side, and then a fireball and debris shoot out of the other.
posted by yupislyr at 6:12 AM on September 11, 2001

CNN is now reporting a second plane crash - one is a disaster, but two seems like it must be an attack to me.

If it is an attack:

1. Who is responsible?

2. Why did they strike when people were probably still arriving rather than 10 or 11 in the morning?

3. What will the U.S. response be?

4. Is anyone ever going to enter those buildings again?
posted by mikewas at 6:14 AM on September 11, 2001 [1 favorite]

This was no accident. No way.
posted by ColdChef at 6:15 AM on September 11, 2001

Wait a second, TWO? Two?

Was it on purpose?
posted by jragon at 6:16 AM on September 11, 2001

i'd have to guess this was a terrorist attack. too bad the missile defense shield wasn't ready to catch those rogue pilots in action.
posted by dogmatic at 6:17 AM on September 11, 2001

There's speculation that one of the planes was hijacked before it impacted the tower. It gets worse every second.
posted by yupislyr at 6:17 AM on September 11, 2001

well, no one is saying anything, but it appears to be highly likely.
posted by karen at 6:17 AM on September 11, 2001

My dad saw it. He was on the ferry going over to the Dow Jones offices across the street. He was there when the bombing happened years back. I hope he gets home. shit shit shit shit
posted by adampsyche at 6:18 AM on September 11, 2001

Definitely not an accident.
posted by canoeguide at 6:18 AM on September 11, 2001

All news websites seem to be getting nailed but apparently all key buildings in NYC are being evacuated and there's a report that the FBI Is investigating about the possibility of one of the planes being hijacked before it impacted the WTC.
posted by yupislyr at 6:23 AM on September 11, 2001

Same from here : netstorm....

Some detail here and quicker : http://www.smh.com.au/news/0109/11//world/world99.html
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:24 AM on September 11, 2001

Sky News is still accessible and there are some shocking pictures. Blimey!
posted by Mr Ed at 6:25 AM on September 11, 2001

There was a mention of a plane hijacking, that maybe one of the planes-the second?- was a hijacked passenger plane.
posted by bison at 6:26 AM on September 11, 2001

you can get through to robots.cnn.com
posted by keith at 6:27 AM on September 11, 2001

I'm not normally a praying man. But I'm praying right now...
posted by ColdChef at 6:27 AM on September 11, 2001

Somebody with access to a TV please post details!! There's no getting into any of the news sites ----

A plane impacted the top of one of the WTC towers at about 10 minutes to nine this morning. While everybody was still trying to figure out was was going on, a second plane flew in a straight line into the second tower and impacted it at a height a little lower than the first collision. Both building are clearly on fire. The government has apparently received no warning or claims of an attack. The president will address the nation shortly.
posted by iceberg273 at 6:28 AM on September 11, 2001

the phonelines here are going crazy, ours just died. i can here ambulances heading downtown. the TV just said that FBI is already investigating. they're talking about a possible hijacking. bush is also supposedly going to talk soon. Tv just said that US officially declared this to be an act of terrorism.
posted by karen at 6:28 AM on September 11, 2001

I'm very glad to hear your father's okay Adam.
posted by cCranium at 6:29 AM on September 11, 2001

Holy fuck. It was a commercial jetliner according to MSNBC
posted by owillis at 6:31 AM on September 11, 2001

second plane looks like a boeing 737
posted by mich9139 at 6:31 AM on September 11, 2001

The second plane is an American Airlines 767 that took off from Boston, CNN is reporting.
posted by rcade at 6:32 AM on September 11, 2001

NY1 reports that the airports, tunnels and incoming traffic into Manhattan has been shutdown.
posted by riffola at 6:32 AM on September 11, 2001

My skin is absolutely crawling.
posted by glenwood at 6:33 AM on September 11, 2001

Holy shit.
posted by cCranium at 6:33 AM on September 11, 2001

ABC News apparently has reported that an American Airlines plane was hijacked earlier today - that could be speculation, however.
posted by pjhagop at 6:33 AM on September 11, 2001

NPR just reported that Bush has vowed to "hunt down those terrorists." That's not a joke.
posted by ColdChef at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

sky news is now reporting that two United Airlines passenger planes, one thought to be a 737, were hijacked shortly before the attack.
posted by dogmatic at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

All the phones to downtown and the 917 area code are locked up. I'm trying to find out some more information.

I just moved to midtown last week - and my friend's company just was dissolved and he moved out of tower 2 (on the 50th floor) about a month ago.

I'll try and get in touch with someone downtown.
posted by rich at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

My entire workplace witnessed the 2nd plane crash. It looks like the first one hit near the top of the building with the anntenna. The second circled around and hit the other building somewhere near the middle.
posted by Cavatica at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

going crazy here....please please post as much detail as you can. CNBC Asia is giving minimal coverage, and i can't access any of the major news sites...
posted by netsirk at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

President is on his way back to Washington, all his events are canceled today.
posted by owillis at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2001

All trading has been postponed 'indefinately' on Wall Street.
posted by fatbaq at 6:36 AM on September 11, 2001

looks like the top 20 or so stories of both buildings. the base of the buildings should be ok, asboth buildings are designed for massive disruptions simliar to this. nothing doing, though, for those top floors. impact itself is bad enough, but the explosion and resulting fire will be horrible.
posted by mich9139 at 6:36 AM on September 11, 2001

I just heard that they were both hijacked commercial planes. Anybody else hear this? That is horrible beyond imagination.
posted by Doug at 6:37 AM on September 11, 2001

CNN: American Airlines 767 hijacked from Boston was one of the planes
posted by owillis at 6:37 AM on September 11, 2001

From Korea I got through to robots.cnn.com
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:38 AM on September 11, 2001

Ok, I got through to downtown but no one is picking up.

I think they may have started evacuating the whole area.
posted by rich at 6:38 AM on September 11, 2001

msnbc version
posted by NortonDC at 6:39 AM on September 11, 2001

they announced that they know one of the planes was a 767 american airlines leaving from boston.
posted by karen at 6:39 AM on September 11, 2001

I heard that one of the planes was hijacked from Boston.
posted by jragon at 6:39 AM on September 11, 2001

Bridges & tunnels are closed, subway shut down, all three NYC airports shut down.
posted by muckster at 6:41 AM on September 11, 2001

I was on the "E" Train, which heads straight into the WTC, only seconds before the crash, when I decided to switch to the "R" Train (which avoids the WTC). I would probably still be stuck on the train now, and for hours afterwards. (And be happy


I'm on 56th Street and Madison (far from the WTC) and the sirens and ambulances heading downtown are constant. At least 20% of my colleagues have friends or relatives who work down there; those who haven't already left are panicked.
posted by MattD at 6:43 AM on September 11, 2001

Palestinian group "Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine" claims responsibility. Possibly both planes hijacked, there may be a third (I'm watching the BBC). Brian Hanrahan is saying "be cautious about all claims for responsibility. There's other shots coming in now of another building burning in Washington. Not even the reporters know what that's about.
posted by jfinnis at 6:44 AM on September 11, 2001

Some sort of bombing at the pentagon just occured.
posted by donkeymon at 6:45 AM on September 11, 2001

Fire in the Pentagon!
posted by riffola at 6:46 AM on September 11, 2001

The Whitehouse has been evacuated.
posted by iceberg273 at 6:46 AM on September 11, 2001

Some sort of bombing at the pentagon just occured.
posted by donkeymon at 6:47 AM on September 11, 2001

It was a plane at the pentagon too..... shiiiit, I don't want to go to downtown today (in Atlanta, but still......)
posted by kidsplate at 6:50 AM on September 11, 2001

washington mall fire, supposedly a plane crash into the pentagon...

why am i getting the feeling that we're in a movie that's telling the end of this country...?
posted by mabelcolby at 6:50 AM on September 11, 2001

This is going to be a big turning point in the history and character of this country, I think.
posted by Doug at 6:51 AM on September 11, 2001 [17 favorites]

Ok, I'm through to downtown.

Rebar is falling all over, there are more ambulances than you can count. About 6 floors in each building have been taken out. All buildings sides facing the towers are closed off.

they just hit the pentagon
posted by rich at 6:51 AM on September 11, 2001

Oh, man... I am so sick. This is the day everything changed. I was just there the day before yesterday, the World Trade Center.

There are so many people there....
posted by anildash at 6:52 AM on September 11, 2001

wow. 3 coordinated hijackings with suicide crashes. and i wanted to fly down to disney world. definately reconsidering that. wonder what the next target would be? hope everything is ok on the other coast. philly isn't a strategic target, is it?
posted by mich9139 at 6:52 AM on September 11, 2001

Mocata, way to turn this around into a "Bush is stupid" thread.

Although I can't see it at work, there is apparently a video feed here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1535000/video/_1537496_crash14_loyn_vi.ram
posted by mikewas at 6:53 AM on September 11, 2001

My dad is across the street. He was talking to my mom after the first one on the cell phone. When the second hit, the phone went dead. shit shit shit shit shit shit

my dads friend is an msnbc reporter. he said that people are jumping out of the fucking building like 80 floors up and landing right in front of him.
posted by adampsyche at 6:55 AM on September 11, 2001

I have started a Yahoo Groups mailing list on the WTC Attack to take some of the load off MetaFilter as we discuss this unfathomable incident. There's now reports of a fire at the Pentagon and another at the Washington Mall. The White House is being evacuated.
posted by rcade at 6:57 AM on September 11, 2001

I think I'm going to be sick.
posted by ColdChef at 6:59 AM on September 11, 2001

adam, i am so glad your dad is okay. we have so many friends who work in that building. i can't even think straight. and there seems to be another explosion in the world trade centers.
posted by karen at 7:03 AM on September 11, 2001

I guess... the US has bombed civilians on numerous occasions... this is what it feels like :(

Adam, hope everything is ok... could be there's a cellphone tower on the building?
posted by kidsplate at 7:03 AM on September 11, 2001

radio is reporting the second tower has collapsed
posted by NortonDC at 7:04 AM on September 11, 2001

i'm glad that your dad is ok, adampsyche. hopefully he'll get the f out of the city as soon as they open it up. he's most likely fine, with the cell towers either damaged or severly overloaded. i'd go with a little of both.
posted by mich9139 at 7:04 AM on September 11, 2001

a rumour that the Iraqis have hijacked 7 passenger planes around the world and are planning more of this. this is the rumour here, I'm in Paris, has anyone else heard anything like this?
posted by hazyjane at 7:07 AM on September 11, 2001

This is a direct link to the video of the second crash, from a Greek news site. It is still working, but I don't know for how long....

http://video.flash.gr/world/cosmosl/video11.asf
posted by talos at 7:08 AM on September 11, 2001

The second tower has collapsed!
posted by bison at 7:08 AM on September 11, 2001

The top of one of the trade towers has collapsed into the street.
posted by ColdChef at 7:09 AM on September 11, 2001

Image:



posted by yarf at 7:12 AM on September 11, 2001

Servers at CSPAN are still carrying live feeds. The audio is call-in, but the video is live on-the-scene.
posted by ewagoner at 7:13 AM on September 11, 2001

Glad your dad's OK, Adam. My thoughts are with you guys on the other side of the pond. Tony Blair's on TV now saying much the same thing.
posted by jfinnis at 7:14 AM on September 11, 2001

I'm in midtown --- looking straight down fifth Ave all you can see is a column of smoke where the collapsed tower is.

My thoughts are with everyone who has friends and family down there. It's such a huge set of buildings that the number of people involved is frightening to think about.
posted by BT at 7:28 AM on September 11, 2001

Only one World Trade Center building is left standing:


posted by yarf at 7:28 AM on September 11, 2001

The other tower just collapsed.
posted by BT at 7:31 AM on September 11, 2001

Dad got the last ferry out of the city. thanks for the well wished. i cant think. this is so fucked up. we dont even know what happened to the goddamn tower. this day will be a turning point.
posted by adampsyche at 7:31 AM on September 11, 2001

as of now, portions of both of the world trade centers are down.
posted by karen at 7:32 AM on September 11, 2001

hopefully our overseas embassies are under lock-down. also, i really hope that additional us sky traffic is accounted for. i would hate to see us sky traffic shot down for a lack of communication. if there really were 7 planes hijacked today, this could get even worse. i would imagine that the group responsible for this would concentrate their efforts in the us, but hopefully this is it for now. can't imagine where a follow-up strike would be, or if there even would be one. i'm just glad tha i don't work in a major metro.
posted by mich9139 at 7:34 AM on September 11, 2001

new news...there was a car bomb outside the state department.
posted by dogmatic at 7:36 AM on September 11, 2001

The 2nd tower is gone. F*ck, the WORLD TRADE CENTER IS GONE.

ABC news is saying a car bomb has also gone off at the State Department.
posted by Spirit_VW at 7:37 AM on September 11, 2001

c-span is training their live cam on the capitol, waiting for the next hijacked plane to hit it.
posted by mich9139 at 7:38 AM on September 11, 2001

cnn just announced that part of the pentagon collapsed.
posted by karen at 7:40 AM on September 11, 2001

Sirens still blaring all across the upper east side. All bridges and tunnels closed, though, so nowhere to go for outer borough folks like me.

People crying, screaming in the hallways. Tons of my colleagues have family in Israel, too, they are certain that this bodes poorly for them.
posted by MattD at 7:43 AM on September 11, 2001

A large plane has just crashed outside of Pittsburgh. I don't know if it's related...
posted by arco at 7:43 AM on September 11, 2001

ABC is denying the carbomb at the state dept. they have a producer there who said that there was no evidence of a carbomb there. powell is on his way back to the US from enroute to Lima, Peru
posted by bison at 7:45 AM on September 11, 2001

The radio just said that planes that were intended to go to US cities today are being diverted to Canada.

My thoughts and prayers to all you who are in or have family and loved ones in NYC.
posted by melissa at 7:45 AM on September 11, 2001

tell me more about the "next hijacked plane"....
posted by netsirk at 7:46 AM on September 11, 2001

other hikjacked plane: CNN is saying that is in on the way to Washington, but there is no official word from FAA about it. The military is flying cover over all of DC.
posted by bison at 7:49 AM on September 11, 2001

One way or the other we are going to find out if George Bush has any ____. I don't pray much, but I think this calls for a pray.
posted by bjgeiger at 7:50 AM on September 11, 2001

arco, supposedly the plane was shot down, it was one of the hijacked ones.
posted by karen at 7:50 AM on September 11, 2001

Nothing left of the WTC twin towers:


posted by yarf at 7:50 AM on September 11, 2001

Sorry about the multiple posts (internet problems). The plane that crashed outside Pgh WAS hijacked, apparently coming out of Cleveland. It crashed in Somerset county, not a highly populated area. It's a 747 (I think). No further information. (THis is from Pgh news channel 11.)
posted by arco at 7:53 AM on September 11, 2001

Better pic:


posted by yarf at 7:58 AM on September 11, 2001

wow. c-span just lets anyone talk on the air, don't they? people are condeming foreigners left and right, and calling for immediate retribution. people are also blaming this on bush, calling him a screw-up, and trying to link this to a lack of religious beliefs.
posted by mich9139 at 8:02 AM on September 11, 2001

everyone, please keep posting news as it arrives!

All major news sites are down - and I've got no radio or TV here!
posted by poncho at 8:02 AM on September 11, 2001

The plane crashed about 11 miles south of Jennerstown, PA which isn't a huge town, but isn't small. There's a race track (auto racing) there. It was a 747 (no word on which airline yet, on local Pittsburgh news) and as reported, was Cleveland --> Chicago bound but also hijacked. No word on whether there is any possibility of survivors, but that is the central PA mountain area (ski resorts, etc.) so the terrain is probably working against them. Downtown Pittsburgh has essentially emptied out, the USX Tower (our tallest building) and the government buildings have been evacuated.

Anyone else feeling the need to walk away from the news/computer?
posted by Dreama at 8:08 AM on September 11, 2001

Lower manhattan is being evacuated.
posted by BT at 8:11 AM on September 11, 2001

No. I'm in New York fucking GLUED to my computer. There aren't any TVs here at the office so we're huddling around the radio and I'm getting my news from MeFi in between answering panicked phone calls from friends, family, and business contacts.
posted by Pyth at 8:14 AM on September 11, 2001

Link to last American Airlines status page showing fateful Flight 11 from Boston to LAX
posted by yarf at 8:14 AM on September 11, 2001

I'm feeling the need to leave the country, myself.

CNN reported that the plane that downed in PA actually originated out of Chicago.

No words. No words.
posted by hijinx at 8:14 AM on September 11, 2001

WooHoo!!!!!
posted by yangwar at 8:15 AM on September 11, 2001

a crash out there might have been caused by the plane being shot down. i really hope that all planes in the sky reply to requests to re-route immediately to avoid a horrendous mistake.
posted by mich9139 at 8:16 AM on September 11, 2001

amy, if you are reading this, you made a comment on my web site wanting to talk to me and my dad. i got it and sent you an email, but it got bounced back to me. not surprising that mail servers would be out. if you want you can call at 267 304-5940 (i normally would never post this on a web site...)
posted by adampsyche at 8:19 AM on September 11, 2001

Evacuate lower Manhattan? With the subways shut down? PATH goes through WTC's basement -- or did. Nobody's getting home to New Jersey anytime soon. I can't imagine what the jams at the tunnels are like ... and the fear of people going through them.

Christ. The Chicago-Cleveland flight could have passed through the airspace of the air-traffic controller I know. (He called his gf to tell him they were landing everything, and she called me to wake me up.)
posted by dhartung at 8:21 AM on September 11, 2001

United Airlines in Denial

Homepage timeline of the Washington Post:

Washington Post Early, Washington Post Middle, Washington Post Late


MSNBC -- Microsoft IIS Can't Handle Load
posted by yarf at 8:25 AM on September 11, 2001 [1 favorite]

cnn isn't reporting anything new anymore. people have been to stay at home unless they're downtown were they're being evacuated out of workplaces and homes and being asked to move uptown. and yes the subways and tunnels are shut down.
posted by karen at 8:27 AM on September 11, 2001

I heard from a friend on a bus outside the building when the first plane hit. The driver jumped out, and the passangers hid under the seats to avoid falling debris. As she ran away, she looked back and saw what looked like hundreds of people jumping from the building.
I have another friend who works in the world financial center, and can't get in touch. Anyone know if that building was damaged? Ash is falling near me.
posted by Doug at 8:28 AM on September 11, 2001

Here's a question: is there widespread celebrating in the West Bank?
posted by ParisParamus at 8:30 AM on September 11, 2001

I am in Europe and cannot get any lines into the US. All of you with family abroad, let them know you're OK.
posted by costas at 8:34 AM on September 11, 2001

Except for Channel 2, all of NYC's TV is down (no more tower)
posted by ParisParamus at 8:35 AM on September 11, 2001

Here's a question: is there widespread celebrating in the West Bank?

Paris, that comment is completely inappropriate, especially now. I'm not surprised that you'd use the deaths of thousands of people to further your agenda, but take your politics somewhere else.
posted by anapestic at 8:36 AM on September 11, 2001

There's going to be widespread something in the West Bank soon.
posted by adampsyche at 8:37 AM on September 11, 2001

The mayor of Cleveland has announced that an airplane containing 200 passengers has been sequestered at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. They believe there may be a bomb on the plane. Very early to tell exactly what is going on.
posted by turaho at 8:37 AM on September 11, 2001

Much fear here in Ottawa: Parliament Hill is closed, and while there are no official evacuations of Canadian government buildings from what I know the director here has told people to go home if they want. One fellow next to me was going to stay, but his wife called and told him, "I'd rather have you home right now."

I am shaking. There are no words.
posted by tranquileye at 8:44 AM on September 11, 2001

Someone on a mailing list I'm on says a plane hit Camp David. She didn't mention a source.
posted by prolific at 8:48 AM on September 11, 2001

if you're trying to get through to loved ones, try using email. the phone lines are not working well.
posted by karen at 8:49 AM on September 11, 2001

dhartung: the evacuation of Lower Manhattan is happening now -- by foot. Everyone is to move north of Canal.

It's true: there are no words.
posted by BT at 8:50 AM on September 11, 2001

I didn't think ParisParamus' question was inappropriate. Channel 2 did in fact report celebrations.
posted by muckster at 8:53 AM on September 11, 2001

Here's a question: is there widespread celebrating in the West Bank?

FWIW, I've heard that the BBC is reporting that "thousands" are celebrating in Palestine.
posted by mikewas at 8:56 AM on September 11, 2001

The New York City primary has been postponed. AT & T has shut down all operations in Manhattan. Schools are still open -- this makes sense, if you think about it.
posted by BT at 9:08 AM on September 11, 2001

I heard that a plane in Cleveland was hijacked, or attempted, and now sits on the tarmac evacuated. Fighter jets are flying over the capitol with orders to shoot.
posted by mecran01 at 9:08 AM on September 11, 2001

CNN says the border between US and Mexico has been closed, and NATO offices in Brussels are also closed.
posted by jnthnjng at 9:09 AM on September 11, 2001

Just heard over live from England, what a nightmare, I'm glad from what I've read that everyone's ok out there. But hear the news is showing on all channels the replay is sickening to watch over again and again. I gather that there's complete chaos and a kind of shut down of transportation systems and bridges in NYC. Additionally there's a confusion hear about another air craft that could have something to do with the terrorist attacks is it a commerical airline or not?.
posted by asfaras at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2001

Naive question: why close the border with Mexico???

KPH
posted by kphaley454 at 9:11 AM on September 11, 2001

Jason of Queso.Com, a NY Area doctor is sending out a request for anyone in the area who is capable of doing so to donate blood. There's going to be thousands and thousands of people who need assistance, and if you can donate, do it.
posted by cCranium at 9:13 AM on September 11, 2001

Paranoia. According to some people I know in Canada, the Canadian border is closed too. No confirmation on that, though.
posted by truex at 9:14 AM on September 11, 2001

If anyone needs to make a phone call in NYC to tell someone they're ok, you can e-mail me ([e-mail]) I seem to have local phone service within NYC
posted by ParisParamus at 9:17 AM on September 11, 2001

FWIW, I've heard that the BBC is reporting that "thousands" are celebrating in Palestine.

Haven't heard this on the BBC or CNN myself. Please people, don't pass on second hand information -- if you haven't heard it yourself, don't pass it on.
posted by lia at 9:18 AM on September 11, 2001

ABC just estimated that there have been 500 deaths from passengers alone and that 200 firemen are unaccounted for.
posted by ttrendel at 9:20 AM on September 11, 2001

KPH: in a situation like this I would think you close all airports, borders and any mode of transportation that can be used as a point of entry or escape... or for that matter a weapon.

A modern day Pearl Harbor...
posted by venegas at 9:21 AM on September 11, 2001

I hear jets over Brooklyn = airforce
posted by ParisParamus at 9:21 AM on September 11, 2001

call me a hippy, but this seems like a great day for thousands to walk en masse through every town USA, in peace.
posted by jfc at 9:22 AM on September 11, 2001

I heard that one of the United planes was from Newark to San Francisco. I took the last United flight out of Newark last night to Chicago. Yikes. This is definitely a sad day in history.

Newt gingrich and other Republicans are being quoted as likeing it to a 21st Century Pearl Harbor.
posted by Stretch at 9:26 AM on September 11, 2001

The BBC is reporting that all Canadian airports are closed. They didn't say anything about the border.
posted by SuperBreakout at 9:26 AM on September 11, 2001

quote from the BBC site:
But Palestinians in refugee camps in Lebanon fired shots into the air with joy at the news of the attacks, the AFP news agency reported.

However, Arafat is publicly condemning the attacks.
posted by hazyjane at 9:27 AM on September 11, 2001

quote from the BBC site:
But Palestinians in refugee camps in Lebanon fired shots into the air with joy at the news of the attacks, the AFP news agency reported.

However, Arafat is publicly condemning the attacks.
posted by hazyjane at 9:31 AM on September 11, 2001

I beg to differ re "insensitivity" I saw the whole thing from the F Train (which is overhead) here in Brooklyn. My hands are shaking. My comment was appropriate given past reactions to terrorism and the likely origin of this disgusting act. Get real, people. Be aware of who's a friend of America and who hates us. WAKE UP.
posted by ParisParamus at 9:32 AM on September 11, 2001

Someone on the radio said that today is the anniversary of one of the Camp David peace accords. True?
posted by straight at 9:38 AM on September 11, 2001

(UK) my company email just advised that all phone lines into the US are closed as part of anti-terrorist measures.
posted by RichLyon at 9:43 AM on September 11, 2001

IT is the anniversary of the Camp David peace accord signed by Sadat and Begin.
posted by Stretch at 9:43 AM on September 11, 2001

Does anybody know how to determine what's going on throughout the Web at present? I heard something about 80% of something being down? Maybe the statistic referred to new sites . . . I can still find stuff about Star Trek, dip recipes, etc. But a lot seems gone or slow. The CNN web site now also appears to be back up. Anyone an expert?
posted by scissorfish at 9:46 AM on September 11, 2001

NO - that was September 17, 1978 --
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_173000/173277.stm
posted by mimi at 9:47 AM on September 11, 2001

``I emphasize that the story released on Abu Dhabi TV by an anonymous person is totally incorrect,'' Tayseer Khaled, a senior official from the DFLP politburo in the Palestinian territories, told Reuters.

``The DFLP is against hijacking planes and against endangering the lives of civilians who are not connected with the struggle of this region,'' he said.
posted by mecran01 at 9:47 AM on September 11, 2001

Palestinians in West Bank celebrate attacks on U.S.
posted by idiolect at 9:52 AM on September 11, 2001

September 17 is correct.
posted by bjgeiger at 9:55 AM on September 11, 2001

Palestinians dancing in the street, celebrating. Regardless of your world view, cheering this is barbaric. I'd like to see us wipe them off the face of the earth.
posted by owillis at 9:57 AM on September 11, 2001

For the record: I heard on the radio this morning (before the whole travesty began) that today is National 911 Day.
posted by darukaru at 9:59 AM on September 11, 2001

Here is some rooftop amateur video of the tower collapse taken by my friend who lives in Chelsea. It's about 1.8MB in size. I live in the East Village myself, and am seeing out my window quite a few dust-covered people evacuating up second avenue still.

If you live in the area, please go to the nearest hospital and donate blood.
posted by matthew at 9:59 AM on September 11, 2001

idiolect, thanks for that link. Just one more point. If a bunch of assholes here or in Europe or elsewhere in the West were celebrating something of this nature and magnitude on some street corner. They would be quickly confronted by others; told to stop; and probably beat up (hopefully). They would be ostricized(sp). None of which will happen in the West Bank. And will Yasser Arafat say the celebrating is disgusting? Certainly not. Just remember that. Over and out.
posted by ParisParamus at 10:03 AM on September 11, 2001

anyone could have done this. anyone.

owillis: the attack could have been designed to elicit just such a response as yours. it could be crazy christians who want to bring on armageddon or israeli zealots who want the US to wipe out palestine or american militiamen who think the government has betrayed them or anti-WTO-types or just anyone.

WE DON'T KNOW.

I'll tell you the truth: I'm surprised that this hasn't happened before now.
posted by rebeccablood at 10:03 AM on September 11, 2001

Bin Laden Warned of 'Unprecedented' Attack
posted by muckster at 10:04 AM on September 11, 2001

internet traffice report
received from Grant at WorldNewYork.org
posted by hazyjane at 10:04 AM on September 11, 2001

The accords were signed on 17 Sept 78, but the conference in which they were signed was held from the 5th to the 17th.
posted by disarray at 10:05 AM on September 11, 2001

I'd like to see us wipe them off the face of the earth.

Regardless of your world view, this is barbaric.

I don't defend the Palestinians. It is barbaric to celebrate the deaths of others. But it's probably worse to propose genocide because of the barbaric actions of the few. Also, before you do that, you might want to look back through history and see whether any Americans celebrated events that resulted in the deaths of many civilians.

I certainly hope that the people who are responsible will be severely punished. I'm just not willing to kill people for their feelings, however barbaric, unless they actually did something to cause the harm.
posted by anapestic at 10:05 AM on September 11, 2001 [1 favorite]

Some links that might be of interest:

http://partners.nyc.com is not suffering from the overload, unlike the normal URL, though they have replaced the New York Times logo graphic with simple text.

Interesting image from the National Weather Service. That's smoke reflecting the radar, not clouds

MAE East Internet traffic report.

Fire Department of NY live broadcasts.

NYPD Live police radio broadcast.

NYC-area traffic reports and cameras (although no cameras appear to be showing video).
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:05 AM on September 11, 2001

Apparently there was a cell phone call from the plane that crashed out of Pittsburgh. Is the military intelligence intelligent enough not to keep anything really important somewhere as high-profile as the pentagon? What are going to be the long-term economic/political consequences? I KNEW that tax surplus would come in handy for something. Who will the scapegoats be? Could this trigger even further nationalism/militarism? Grassroots, institutional? Would it be justified?
posted by scissorfish at 10:07 AM on September 11, 2001

My greatest fear is that this could be some flip-trip gourp of distrubed people from our country. That thought scares me more than if it is a forgien organization.
posted by bjgeiger at 10:09 AM on September 11, 2001

my greatest fear is how our government is going to respond. more erosion of freedom in the name of security. mark my words.
posted by rebeccablood at 10:10 AM on September 11, 2001 [15 favorites]

What surprises me is that some of the people who did come out from WTC after the plane crashes. The safety officials were more concerned about the smoke, but though the building structure was fine. One of the first things I thought of when I saw the second plane crash, was that building 2 (South tower as people on CNN report it) looked weak. I was honestly expecting to see a 3rd plane headed for the Empire State Building.

This is just a sad sad day.
posted by riffola at 10:12 AM on September 11, 2001

Nato.com hacked..?
posted by muckster at 10:13 AM on September 11, 2001

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

The Second Coming (part) (William Butler Yeats)
posted by RichLyon at 10:13 AM on September 11, 2001

I agree rebecca. Suspension of some civil rights would be a typical government response in a situation like this
posted by bjgeiger at 10:14 AM on September 11, 2001

President Bush just made an address from Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. He looked dazed, confused. He spoke directly from notes, very, very slowly. I didn't get a sense of courage or leadership. Anyone else?
posted by stevis at 10:15 AM on September 11, 2001

Can anyone confirm or deny the rumors about Camp David?
posted by fieldswn at 10:16 AM on September 11, 2001

And will Yasser Arafat say the celebrating is disgusting? Certainly not.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat condemned the attack, saying he "sent his condolences and those of the Palestinian people to Bush and the American people." (from CNN)

Don't make things worse than they already are. We know nothing about who is responsible for this.
posted by feckless at 10:16 AM on September 11, 2001

MSNBC and CNN just confirmed that the rumors about a plane crashing into Camp David are untrue. No planes have crashed into Camp David.
posted by headspace at 10:17 AM on September 11, 2001

try nato.int
posted by deanburge at 10:17 AM on September 11, 2001

Rebecca is right. The sad irony is that if we do give away our freedom for more "security" the terrorists will have won.
posted by daveadams at 10:18 AM on September 11, 2001 [3 favorites]

This is what I got at nato.org.
posted by gleuschk at 10:19 AM on September 11, 2001

a good compilation of photographs of the event are here. does anyone else have a sick feeling in their stomach that there are people out there that can think of executing a plan like this and followers that are capable of actually executing it?
posted by r-boogie at 10:20 AM on September 11, 2001

scissorfish, yes, the net is running very slowly, when at all. From here in Australia, there are a lot of people just trying to establish what is going on. Our Prime Minister Mr Howard is in America, in a hotel near the Pentagon that has been sealed. Ex-president Clinton is in Port Douglas in Queensland. There are security concerns surrounding those facts naturally. Clinton in preparing to give a conference soon for our press here. Our thought are certainly with you all.
posted by lucien at 10:21 AM on September 11, 2001

Muckster: NATO ist not .COM - NATO is at www.nato.int
posted by vowe at 10:21 AM on September 11, 2001

this is pure evil! no words can describe this...
posted by gabriel at 10:21 AM on September 11, 2001

Afghanistan also sent its condolences - Afghanistan who despise America?? Wasn't there an explosion outside the State Department or something? Car bomb??
posted by Mossy at 10:26 AM on September 11, 2001

I'd like to thank rebeccablood and anapestic for bringing some perspective to all this. Today's events have been shocking to say the least but we should try not to let this turn into a generalisation of a whole country and then, in turn, hate for them. We all know what that leads to.
posted by Saima at 10:27 AM on September 11, 2001

UK Heads-of-state latest...
Tony Blair is making a statement in half an hour -- although it's difficult to see what he can say.
William Hague has announced the suspension of the Conservative Leadership election.
Duchess of York is safe -- although oddly Prince Edward was flying into New York, and his plane was diverted....
posted by feelinglistless at 10:28 AM on September 11, 2001

mossy: the carbomb was a false report.

I'm sure this isn't a popular point of view, but this might be a good time for each of us to look at the actions of the US and think about what might have elicited such hatred from someone else?

when it's your own countrymen, it seems like a horrible, egregious, unforgivable evil. remember that there are plenty of people and countries around the world who have lost countrymen and loved ones--and who can quite accurately and reasonably blame the US either for directly causing those losses, or for turning a blind eye.

as I said before, I'm just surprised that this hasn't happened before now.
posted by rebeccablood at 10:34 AM on September 11, 2001

How did the World Trade Center crash in that way?? It was like one of those completely controlled explosions..

Muslims will be the first to be blamed. All 1.2 billion of us..

Are there any reports as to casualties yet??

How did a plane mange to hit the Pentagon??? That place should be fortified like anything?!?!? Also, I heard before they hit that F-16s were tracking a plane.

How about the people who were at the foot of the WTC when the crashed??? There must have been thousands of firemen/policemen :( :( :(
posted by Mossy at 10:35 AM on September 11, 2001

I personally can't even process yet what's happened. The trade center towers had tens of thousands of people inside of them every day, a city within a city. I'm afraid for one of my relatives who may well have been there (we haven't been able to find out yet) and sickened by the knowledge that over the coming weeks I'll be learning of the deaths of other people I've met or worked with.

But I think to turn from this to a call for revenge against the Palestinian people at large is not only ridiculously premature (remember the immediate belief that Oklahoma City was perpetrated by Islamic militants?) but another evil to compound this incomprehensible crime.
posted by BT at 10:42 AM on September 11, 2001

So far as I've been able to determine, the Internet backbone has been holding up pretty well... well, except for those parts of it that run through NYC.

CNN has gracefully degraded it's front page as hard as I've ever seen it: a logo, and text; that's *it*. Loadings seem to be mostly on end sites -- there is really a *LOT* of bandwidth in the backbone.

Fox News reports a State of Emergency in Wahington DC.

I actually thought Bush's address was passable, considering. Barksdale may have been a leak; reportedly, we don't know *where* he was.

NATO is at :http://www.nato.*int*.

NMCC active and SecDef is there, at ThreatCon Delta.
The latest on Camp David that I have is that they think the Pennsy plane *may* have been headed there.

There are 4 flights of -16's and -18's over Downtown DC.

Another local paper with a good collection of wire service sidebars is available.

Several senators are saying "we're at war", others hope not. I do too. But I know we better have... a proportional response.

As long as we believe we can survive this, we can. America, to quote President John Patrick Ryan, is an *idea*.

Keep on believing, people.
posted by baylink at 10:43 AM on September 11, 2001

It is my hope that everyone will now carefully watch our politicians. Those who invest in the war machine and military of this nation, which many people have in their invest portfolios, now stand to make millions to billions on the fear and anger caused by this event. So, don't think that everyone is unhappy about this.
posted by memorydream at 10:44 AM on September 11, 2001

Words fail me - so from the BBC News Talking Point discussion - someone quotes Gandhi:

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" - Ghandi
posted by blackbeltjones at 10:45 AM on September 11, 2001

Ok, false report.

This was an amazing piece of organisation - thats why it hasn't happened before.

Nobody will ever admit to this.

Its going to take weeks, even months to find out who did it :(

The world is gonna change because of this.

I still don't get why they didn't instead attack someone like G Bush instead, take out the leader? Instead, the mofos chose to hit 10s of thousands of innocent civilians.
posted by Mossy at 10:48 AM on September 11, 2001

Canada has closed its borders and all outgoing flights, but is handling all incoming North American flight traffic - . My local Red Cross is preparing to send an Disaster Response Team as soon as they can travel which includes my boyfriend, and citizens are flooding to the blood bank. Personally, I send my prayers.
posted by hannahkitty at 10:49 AM on September 11, 2001

Numb. I'm just completely numb.
posted by mathowie at 10:51 AM on September 11, 2001

rebecca risks hubris, IMO. The greatest fear, surely, is for the next 30,000 lives. A massive terrorist attack on US soil is now demonstrably achievable. The intelligence services are demonstrably impotent. These two observations will no doubt be profoundly encouraging to all organisation with a grudge against the US and access to a briefcase of anthrax spores. Do you honestly imagine it is over?

The world changed today. Barbarism->civilisation->decadence->barbarism is a well established cycle in human affairs. I think we just began a transition, and to a state of affairs where "eroded freedoms" are the least of our worries. "mark my words"...
posted by RichLyon at 10:54 AM on September 11, 2001

this might be a good time for each of us to look at the actions of the US and think about what might have elicited such hatred from someone else?

This is simply disgusting.
posted by mw at 10:59 AM on September 11, 2001

From Annanova: New Yorkers Queue For Food And Cash.

Is making a run on financial institutions the right response at a time like this? I know it's not logical -- but after something like this it's not like logical, rational thought is possible...
posted by likorish at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2001

As I write this, I am sitting in the green grass across from the United Unions building on New York Avenue in Washington DC. I am only a block from the White House. There are currently two layers of security around the white house from what I can see. There is an outer layer has secret service and other police officers to turn back people and cars, and an inner on complete with road blocks.

Since air traffic has been stopped, it has been quieter than usual. The endless string of planes flying into national airport has disappeared. Occasionally, you can hear a rumbling overhead, probably fighter jets circling the city.

Traffic in DC is at a stand still. Quite a few federal workers have given up on driving home. You can see them mingling with the homeless people and listening to transistor radios in the parks that sprinkle the area from the Watergate Complex to the White House. Some people look scared, but most look pretty calm, like this happens every lunch hour.

There are lots of people standing around, people talking, people smoking cigarettes. This is something you never see in DC, a place where people never seem to get where they're going fast enough. But with the bridges to Virginia blocked and the Metro skipping some stops, we all suddenly have time to stand around and listen.

The secret service seems to be eyeing me nervously, they've moved the security perimeter beyond where I'm sitting, so I think I'll go home and post this.
posted by Alison at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2001

I am afraid of how many more lives may be lost in the US's quest for vengeance.
posted by phichens at 11:03 AM on September 11, 2001

blackbeltjones: interesting. I've donned my headphones to filter out the absurd and ignorant comments from my co-workers. Ghandi's quote has been repeating in my head for most of the morning.

-w
posted by winterdrm at 11:04 AM on September 11, 2001

MSNBC is accessible from western Canada, and it too is stripped down....
posted by likorish at 11:05 AM on September 11, 2001

Also, these types of attacks were always possible: the empire state building in '45 and the bombings throughout the '90s. Heck, the Doonesbury comic strip joked that all terrorists would have to do is ram a plane into something. Panic and fear is a survival tactic for those who have less and an elevation tactic for those who have more, when the next attack will happen is never appropriate to think, that type of blindness puts a bullet in your back while you run. Take care of those who need help now and garner yourself creatively for what will come.
posted by memorydream at 11:05 AM on September 11, 2001

same here, matt.
posted by bwg at 11:05 AM on September 11, 2001

A few thousand out of 4 million Palestinians celebrated. They are confused, fucked-up people much like the people who perpetrated the attack.

But it is a side issue, it's a reaction just as barbaric as the reaction we have in wanted to kill people remotely attached to this attack.

It's important to focus not on the radicals who might feel somehow vindicated by this attack but on the actual attackers.
posted by cell divide at 11:07 AM on September 11, 2001

Yeah, the world is now changed..

and London has now had all the flights cancelled too.

Imagine also the economic impact - all the major companies would have been centered there, with their top people :(

State of emergency in NYC, national guard on streets.
posted by Mossy at 11:07 AM on September 11, 2001

Jesus. I have a coworker who thinks that this is Bush's fault (she is a self-proclaimed "die-hard Dem"). Can anyone possibly support this view, that if it was Gore elected or simply not Bush as president, that this wouldn't have happened? That just sounds preposterous to me.
posted by adampsyche at 11:09 AM on September 11, 2001

Is anybody else struck by how flimsy the "celebrations" in Palestine look? I see a handful of children and a few embarassed adults.
posted by muckster at 11:09 AM on September 11, 2001

rebecca risks hubris, IMO

don't you see that this is a turning point?

- we go on as we have and this kind of thing continues
- we implement some form of police state in order to protect ourselves, thus ensuring our material wealth, but completely renouncing the freedoms that supposedly define us a a nation
- we completely rethink the way we operate in the world in order to make ourselves a less hated entity.

it's going to be one or two. and sure I'm concerned for the next 30,000. but if we give up our civil liberties in response to this, they've won. we lose everything that ever mattered about this country.
posted by rebeccablood at 11:13 AM on September 11, 2001 [2 favorites]

the world trade centers could hold up to 500,000 people, according to the architect.

link from little green footballs.
posted by bwg at 11:14 AM on September 11, 2001

I just wrote in my log, but I'll condense it here: how incredible it is that so few can reach out and affect so many. Here in Seattle, there are no planes in the sky. It's a surreal scene, a quiet clear blue sky with no planes, contrails, helicopters or sound. I've never seen it like this before. I'm numb as well. I hope we don't lash out at random, or at the wrong people.
posted by kokogiak at 11:15 AM on September 11, 2001

This goes beyond terrorism to a form of asymmetrical warfare. The response to such an attack must be as definite and strong as any one would give in open battle. If countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen and Iraq are willing to harbor known terrorist organizations, they must also be willing to suffer the consequences of those associations. And, if this attack is state sponsored, the US must considered itself at war.

Regardless of blame, America will fundamentally change because of these acts. The very freedoms which define the nation will have to be reconsidered, and, if needed, changed. Such a change to a society goes beyond the material loss by forcing a consideration of a nation's sense of identity.

For this inevitable loss, coupled with what will surely be a horrendous loss of life, we must all grieve. I am not an American nor am I given to slogans, but I do hope that today, and for many days hereafter God blesses America in all that it will have to endure.
posted by sunsolid at 11:16 AM on September 11, 2001

The Pentagon has just released a statement:

Fire and rescue have only just been able to approach the area because of the intensity of the heat.
posted by feelinglistless at 11:22 AM on September 11, 2001

i'm numb, too... i'm holding the loved ones within my immediate reach a lot tighter today.
posted by webchick at 11:25 AM on September 11, 2001

apparently the Whitehouse has anti aircraft guns after that light aircraft incident.. Those State Troopers in NYC look ominous - New York commerce is screwed, thats for sure..

I thought it was 50,000 in WTC?

oh, little things, I think major league baseball and the emmy awards have been cancelled too.
posted by Mossy at 11:26 AM on September 11, 2001

My prayers to all those who have had their souls torn apart by this. This is our world's fault and those who would rather fight to the very last few to realize they've got to do something to get along and stop doing this. My hope is just for clear vision enough love to pull it together. Good job New York for donating blood and doing so much to help America's sons and daughters in your city. I'm really proud of you New York. Do your best and keep clear heads and open ears, we all need that. I fully agree rebecca, by the way.
posted by memorydream at 11:29 AM on September 11, 2001

CNN (tv) just reported that a passenger on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania locked him(?)self in a restroom with a cell phone and called an emergency line (911?) saying, "we've been hijacked! we've been hijacked!" The passenger stayed on the phone until the crash.

A friend reported that "according to witnesses it sounds like [the pilot] jammed the throttles forward, locked them, and pushed the plane into a dive. Probably to make it an unrecoverable dive"
posted by phichens at 11:31 AM on September 11, 2001

dead @ 32 hosting mirrors of videos of WTC's collapse, as well as assorted images and a discussion forum to further discuss the attack.
posted by yarf at 11:34 AM on September 11, 2001

I agree with rebeccablood that our focus (as Americans) must not only to bring justice to those organizing this attack, but on preserving civil liberties. During peacetime, it's easier to be socially conscious and live morally. I'm most concerned that an event this drastic will cause many to replace ideologies based on reason with ideologies based on fear.
posted by ktheory at 11:35 AM on September 11, 2001

Is anybody else wondering why there was no warning? I'm quite niece when it comes to air traffic control, but either the original pilot were flying or somebody else was. And I'd imagine if the planes were off their flight plans, and the pilots were not responding, somebody must have noticed... right?

Maybe it's time for some biometrics in plane cockpits? Maybe it's time for a call-and-response style security system for pilots and Air Traffic Controllers?

The other thing that's running through my mind is how horrifically like the James Bond movies this is... crash jet liners into the financial center of the world, then drain off all the cash...
posted by daver at 11:35 AM on September 11, 2001

WTC - half a million souls.

even if 90% were evacuated - which the architect said would be a nightmare...
posted by bwg at 11:36 AM on September 11, 2001

Here in the UK, PM Blair has just made a statement to the effect that this is not about the US being at war with terrorism, but about the free democracies of the world being at war with terrorism, which is valid, but somewhat hollow, IMHO.

Regarding Rebecca's (and others') view that it might behoove the US to examine itself and what it has done to create enemies with such determined hatred; I think it's worth reflecting that many people in many countries (including its 'allies') have serious issues with the way the US comports itself on the world stage. It's no use announcing yourself the world's policeman/woman if the people of the world haven't chosen to be policed by you, and it's got to be galling for a country like the US to suggest that it should be the one taking the moral high ground when some of its moral standpoints are, frankly, repugnant to many people.

I'd be the last to suggest that violence should be a response to this, but please don't fall into the view that victimhood equates to sainthood.
posted by jonpollard at 11:37 AM on September 11, 2001

Can anyone possibly support this view, that if it was Gore elected or simply not Bush as president, that this wouldn't have happened? That just sounds preposterous to me.

All bets are off. Politics don't matter right now--it's more important that we be unified and support each other. Did I vote for Bush? No. Will I support my president during this mind-boggling tragedy? You bet your ass.
posted by frykitty at 11:39 AM on September 11, 2001

i'm just scared that george w will go on a rampage. did you guys get that quote from his speech: "america will pass this test." test? does america have something to prove? how many more people must die before george feels vindicated?
posted by jedwin at 11:44 AM on September 11, 2001

Thanks frykitty. I think you are right. It was just so disarming to hear partisanship when the frickin' US is in the shape it is in today. Shameless opportunism.
posted by adampsyche at 11:45 AM on September 11, 2001

This has been the worst day in American history. Right now, it feels like one of the worst days of my life.
posted by argybarg at 11:56 AM on September 11, 2001

http://www.shunn.net/okay/

a site that has been set up as a check-in point for people in DC/new york who can't get through the phone lines, so they can let everyone know they're all right.
posted by christian at 12:01 PM on September 11, 2001

from Salon (bottom of page):

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat strongly condemned the attacks, which came on the 8th anniversary of the Washington meeting between Clinton, Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

not that it necessarily means anything....
posted by epersonae at 12:03 PM on September 11, 2001

WTC - half a million souls

50,000 worked there, not 500,000. Still extremely tragic, obviously.

I keep thinking about what America will be like in 10 years vs what it would have been like if this hadn't happened.
posted by quirked at 12:17 PM on September 11, 2001

People in the streets are screaming at Arabs near me. Its absurd, and horrible. One woman, "Are you happy with what you've done?" Another man, "It's going down soon, man."
I have a friend who claims the ash I'm breathing is asbestos. Internal memo at ABC News.
posted by Doug at 12:29 PM on September 11, 2001

The half a million figure came from the interview in the Jerusalem Post with the WTC architect (who now lives in Israel; whether that had anything to do with the choice of targets is an open question). It's not supported by anything else, except a vague statement I found that "up to" that many people might be in the buildings over the course of a day. It's ridiculous when you consider that not even 3 million people work in Manhattan daily.

The FEMA report on the evacuation after the 1993 bombing gives a figure of 50,000 evacuees.

Note that there are many reports that people working on upper floors got out, so it's clear that not everyone was trapped inside. But there were definitely a large number of casualties, and I wouldn't be surprised if the death toll topped 1000. We still don't know what kind of damage might have been done to other buildings or how many rescue workers may have been inside.

Doug, where are you? I worry for the safety of anyone who even looks Arab, whether or not they really are.
posted by dhartung at 12:31 PM on September 11, 2001

A couple of hours ago I received this email from Nicholas Longo, the CEO of CoffeeCup Software, which make a popular HTML editor. He wrote, in part: "We would like to also say on record that if any country is found responsible for these attacks, we call for that country's complete destruction and annihilation."
posted by tranquileye at 12:33 PM on September 11, 2001

I saw some interviews with survivors on the news - this dude got off from the 86th floor of building 1 fine, apparently no confusion/panic either. This indicates a large number did manage to get out. I pray they did.

There are gonna be some massive infringements of 'civil liberties' in the US, and lots of angry americans in a bit...

btw, was it just me, or did those Palestinians 'celebrations' seem kinda tiny and orchestrated? Why do we get the same scenes again and again?

The brit foreign office has issued a warning to all brits in muslim countries to take extra precautions and warned about being in in America too.
posted by Mossy at 12:33 PM on September 11, 2001

My heart died today for these people snuffed out in a senseless act. I am neither concerned nor interested in America right now. Right now I am concerned for humans, the thousands that lost their lives today and the millions who loved them.

Humanity is good. Let's prove it. Love your brothers and sisters.

Peace. Please.
posted by Kafkaesque at 12:34 PM on September 11, 2001

My roommate woke me up this morning to see the news and I still can't believe it's not a nightmare. My family's all in the Washington, DC, area, and I haven't been able to get them on the phone. I finally got an e-mail from my mom, and everyone's OK, but it was really scary. My sister-in-law's aunt lives two miles from where the plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Last month I flew from Newark to San Francisco, the same route as one of the planes today.

What a horrible day. Hundreds of terrified people in the airplanes, thousands of people in the buildings on the ground who may or may not have known what hit them, who knows how many thousands of people who have to see their loved ones die on television. It's staggering.

I'm also worried that this could just be the beginning, unless the US changes how it behaves around the world.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:35 PM on September 11, 2001

The world changed today. Barbarism->civilisation->decadence->barbarism is a well established cycle in human affairs. I think we just began a transition.

This is one of the most chilling things I've read today. I couldn't agree more, and I could be more horrified. My heart goes out to all the hundreds of people undoubtably still trapped in the WTC rubble.

Does anyone know those of us on the West Coast can help by donating blood? Can my blood get to NYC?
posted by arielmeadow at 12:35 PM on September 11, 2001 [1 favorite]

people in the u.s. are actually condeming an entire race due to the acts of a few? say it ain't so!

hopefully there aren't any internment camps in our future.


as for the ash you're breathing, i'm sure it's composed of a lot of things. asbestos probably is one of them. you might want to get one of those medical face masks or even a wet rag to hold over your mouth. the ash definately is not good for you.
posted by mich9139 at 12:36 PM on September 11, 2001

On DC radio there have been multiple reports that a plane from MPD (DC Police) was hijcked/stolen and then forced down by military fighter planes. Nothing else heard about it, for a good while now. If it's true, that might mean that some of the people connected have been taken alive.
posted by NortonDC at 12:38 PM on September 11, 2001

About the 50,000 number, according to CNN, there are also 70,000 visitors a day to the WTC.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:39 PM on September 11, 2001

This reminds me, unfortunately, of the movie The Siege that came out in 1998. "When the [terrorist] bombings [in New York] escalate out of control, the President institutes martial law, sending in General Devereaux... with tanks and troops to ferret out the terrorists. Echoes of Japanese-Americans in internment camps ring out as Arabs, including the son of the Arab-American FBI agent, are herded into a stadium."
posted by tranquileye at 12:42 PM on September 11, 2001

breathing the ash: even if there's no asbestos, you probably still need to think about silicosis.

...but you've probably got other things to worry about anyhow...
posted by aramaic at 12:42 PM on September 11, 2001

The CBC is reporting that a Korean airliner is being held in Whitehorse (Yukon) and is being treated as a "hijacked plane."
posted by tranquileye at 12:44 PM on September 11, 2001

70,000?? DAmn..

The downed plane was in Pittsburgh, wasn't it? Looks pretty darned broken up, doubt anyone survived, but clues may come from it..

Let us pray the survivors are many and the retaliation isn't rash.

This reminds me more of Fight Club - except without empty buildings - the US economy is about to go VERY strange, Manhattan will be out of action for a considerable time..
posted by Mossy at 12:45 PM on September 11, 2001

i am not making light of the immediate situation...

clean up will be a tremendous task. the buildings are too hot to even approach, meaning searches could take a week or more. groundwater will likely be contaminated, meaning fresh reservees will have to be shipped in. disposal will be a huge task, calling for even more traffic to and from the area.

as if the initial attack wasn't bad enough, the physical reminder will exist in new york for quite some time.

i'm wondering if they will even rebuild the buildings. it is definately an eerie change to the new york skyline. that is, when the debris settles, and the skyline is fully visible again.
posted by mich9139 at 12:47 PM on September 11, 2001

This isn't a Republican/Democrat thing. This is an American thing. Those planes didn't ask for party affiliation.
posted by owillis at 12:48 PM on September 11, 2001 [1 favorite]