U.S.

ATTACKED; President Vows

to Exact Punishment for 'Evil'
By SERGE SCHMEMANN There were indications that the hijackers husband, Solicitor General Theodore
Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2001
on at least two of the planes were armed Olson, by cell phone and to tell
Hijackers rammed jetliners into each of with knives. Attorney General John him that the hijackers were armed with
Ashcroft told reporters in the evening that knives and a box cutter.
New York's World Trade Center towers
yesterday, toppling both in a hellish storm In all, 266 people perished in the
four planes and several score more
of ash, glass, smoke and leaping victims,
while a third jetliner crashed into the were known dead elsewhere.
Numerous firefighters, police officers
Pentagon in Virginia. There was no official
count, but President Bush said thousands and other rescue workers who
responded to the initial disaster in
had perished, and in the immediate
aftermath the calamity was already being Lower Manhattan were killed or
injured when the buildings collapsed.
ranked the worst and most audacious
terror attack in American history. Hundreds were treated for cuts,
broken bones, burns and smoke
The attacks seemed carefully coordinated.
The hijacked planes were all en route to inhalation.
California, and therefore gorged with fuel,
and their departures were spaced within But the real carnage was concealed
for now by the twisted, smoking, ash-
an hour and 40 minutes. The first,
American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 choked carcasses of the twin towers,
in which thousands of people used to
out of Boston for Los Angeles, crashed
into the north tower at 8:48 a.m. Eighteen work on a weekday. The collapse of
the towers caused another World
minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175,
also headed from Boston to Los Angeles, Trade Center building to fall 10
hours later, and several other
plowed into the south tower.
Then an American Airlines Boeing 757, buildings in the area were damaged
or aflame.
Flight 77, left Washington's Dulles
International Airport bound for Los ''I have a sense it's a horrendous
number of lives lost,'' said Mayor
Angeles, but instead hit the western part
of the Pentagon, the military headquarters Rudolph W. Giuliani. ''Right now we
have to focus on saving as many lives
where 24,000 people work, at 9:40 a.m.
Finally, United Airlines Flight 93, a as possible.''
The mayor warned that ''the
Boeing 757 flying from Newark to San
Francisco, crashed near Pittsburgh, the suspects on Flight 11 were armed that numbers are going to be very, very high.''
way. And Barbara Olson, a television He added that the medical examiner's
raising the possibility that its hijackers
had failed in whatever their mission was. commentator who was traveling on office will be ready ''to deal with
American Flight 77, managed to reach her
thousands and thousands of bodies if they
have to.''
For hours after the attacks, rescuers were
stymied by other buildings that
threatened to topple. But by 11 p.m.,
rescuers had been able to begin serious
efforts to locate and remove survivors. Mr.
Giuliani said two Port Authority police
officers had been pulled from the ruins,
and he said hope existed that more people
could be saved.
Earlier, police officer volunteers using
dogs had found four bodies in the
smoldering, stories-high pile of rubble
where the towers had once stood and had
taken them to a makeshift morgue in the
lobby of an office building at Vesey and
West Streets.
Within an hour of the attacks, the United
States was on a war footing. The military
was put on the highest state of alert,
National Guard units were called out in
Washington and New York and two
aircraft carriers were dispatched to New
York harbor. President Bush remained
aloft in Air Force One, following a
secretive route and making only brief
stopovers at Air Force bases in Louisiana
and Nebraska before finally setting down
in Washington at 7 p.m. His wife and
daughters were evacuated to a secure,
unidentified location.
The White House, the Pentagon and the
Capitol were evacuated, except for the
Situation Room in the White House where
Vice President Cheney remained in
charge, giving the eerie impression of a
national capital virtually stripped of its
key institutions.
A DAY OF TERROR: THE RESPONSE
By JANE FRITSCH Highway, blocked by the danger of further catastrophe
Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 from attempting to enter the scene. Staring at the rubble,
others seemed frozen by the fact that two enormous
buildings had simply disappeared.
With scores of firefighters and police suddenly missing,
New York firefighters, impelled by instinct and training,
random groups of people took command. Building
rushed to the World Trade Center yesterday to evacuate
superintendents became lifesavers -- guiding panicked
victims. Then the buildings fell down. The firefighters
residents to basements. Consolidated Edison workers
never came out.
guided people to safety. And small groups of people
More than 300 firefighters were unaccounted for when
responding to calls from panicked friends -- including
the day ended. It was the worst disaster in the New York
one woman trapped with her twin children -- descended
Fire Department's history, explosions having collapsed
on the neighborhood to help. The first groups of rescuers
the two main towers onto the first wave of rescuers as
-- firefighters toting axes, construction workers toting
they snaked through stairwells and hallways.
shovels and police officers on their hands and knees --
Throughout the night, officials went from firehouse to
looked like a handful of tiny insects swarming over 100-
firehouse doing head counts to reckon the death toll.
foot-tall piles of debris. In one spot, a jagged four-story
In the tumult of the morning, the temporary command
section of the building jutted straight in the air. In
center set up on a nearby street to deal with the calamity
another, a six-story section lay flat on its side. And all
was buried in a rolling wave of concrete chunks.
around them were 50-foot mounds of twisted metal,
Among those who died there were Chief of Department
concrete chunks and shattered glass.
Peter J. Ganci and First Deputy Fire Commissioner
By the time the buildings collapsed, more than 400
William M. Feehan. Also killed was one of the
firefighters were at the scene, many of them racing up
department's Roman Catholic chaplains, Mychal Judge,
stairways to reach people trapped on the upper floors,
who had rushed to the scene to comfort victims.
fire officials said. Many of the rescuers were from six-
There was no trace of three of the fire department's most
person units that specialize in building collapses, and
elite units, Rescues 1, 2 and 4, officials said last night.
many are now missing, presumed to have died when the
''We haven't found other people yet either and I don't
buildings collapsed.
even want to mention their names,'' Fire Commissioner
Marite Anez, who was working in an office on the 87th
Thomas Von Essen, with ash still on his clothes just
floor of 1 World Trade Center, said that as she and
before midnight, said about the department's loss.
hundreds of others scrambled down stairways, she
''Some of the best people in this department, I can't find
passed many firefighters climbing up.
anybody from 5 Rescue and 7 Squad. It's just a
When she reached the first floor, she said, the building
devastating thing. I don't know -- the Fire Department
collapsed. ''You couldn't see anything,'' she said. ''That's
will recover but I don't know how.''
when everyone panicked. Everyone was pushing. The
Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik said late last
fire people gave us light, showed us the way out. The
night that about 33 officers were unaccounted for.
ones who were going up, I'm sure they died.''
As night deepened, officials were able to bring in cranes
Edward Fahey, among the first firefighters to arrive, said
and heavy shovels to begin moving rubble in hopes of
he had to dodge bodies that were being propelled from
finding survivors. But for most of the day, the notion of a
windows on the upper floors.
rescue effort seemed remote.
''At this point, it's less of a firefighting operation and
more like a war,'' said Michael Carter, vice president of
the Uniformed Firefighters Association, who was on the
scene.
Like dazed and bloodied soldiers, thousands of
firefighters and police officers wandered helplessly
throughout the afternoon and evening on the West Side
Physical and Psychological Paralysis
of Nation
By BLAINE HARDEN time. Personally, I'd kill them all. Let God
Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 sort it out.''
Asked whom he would kill, Mr. Freeman
Attacks on the World Trade Center and responded: ''That's the question. We don't
the Pentagon shut down much of the know who did it. There's no proof. What
United States yesterday, compelling are we going to do?''
Americans to acknowledge that nameless Television-fed anxiety reached to the
terrorists can serve up multiple acts of farthest corners of the United States. In
war -- live on national television -- inside Kodiak, Alaska, the United States Coast
the world's most powerful country. Guard canceled the day's monitoring
The morning's explosions, confusion and flight along the Aleutian Islands and in
death on the East Coast imposed a kind of the Bering Sea. The air fleet was put on an
national paralysis that was both physical alert status, and the whole base took on
and psychological. Besides closing the the air of an installation in war mode.
nation's skies to all civilian planes, it In a briefing at the base, the air station
prompted a nationwide urban evacuation commander, Darrell Nelson, described
that by midday had all but cleared many himself as stunned.
of the United States' Main Streets. It also ''I was stationed at Governors Island,''
left many people struggling to understand Commander Nelson said. ''I can't believe
an enemy they did not know. what I've seen. The World Trade Towers,
''It doesn't scare me that we're going to that's the view out your window, that was
war,'' said Kelli Bracco, a state employee the view, when you live there.''
in Harrisburg, Pa. ''It's the nature of the Unable to fly, tens of thousands of airline
war that scares me. We're not going passengers besieged rental car agencies
against a country, but a group.'' and took to the road. At the Peter Jay
Mike Powder, who runs a car repair shop Camiel Plaza, off the Pennsylvania
in Loves Park, Ill., felt the same way. Turnpike, Paul Murphy, a banking
Watching President Bush refer to consultant who had been turned away at
''cowardly acts'' on television, Mr. Powder the Philadelphia airport, was pouring over
said: ''At least when we fought the an atlas, trying to figure out how to get
Japanese and the Germans, they showed home to St. Louis.
their flag. These guys hide.'' As Mr. Murphy and others left the
From the Sears Tower in Chicago, to crowded turnpike restaurant, where a
petroleum skyscrapers in Houston, to the television was tuned to pictures of smoke
Trans-America Pyramid in San Francisco, rising from a war-zone image of Lower
major office towers closed in cities across Manhattan, a waitress encouraged them
the country. to ''have a safe day.''
Major League Baseball canceled its In many Midwestern and Western states,
games. Disneyland closed its parks. Many there were reports of price gouging at gas
malls locked their doors. Dump trucks stations as people have apparently
formed a cordon around City Hall in swarmed stations in anticipation of price
Baltimore. Starbucks stopped serving in spikes. Gov. Frank Keating of Oklahoma
Seattle and around the country. Texas issued a statement warning against price
postponed an execution. spikes.
An overwhelming desire to do something ''It is inexcusable for some gas stations to
to help the victims of yesterday's violence be price-gouging during this time of
swept much of the country. Blood centers horror and tragedy,'' Mr. Keating said.
in many cities were crowded with donors,
as elective surgery was canceled at many
hospitals to conserve blood.
Seventy flags flying in front of the main
entrance of Miami International Airport,
representing the nations the airport
serves, were removed to leave only the
American flag to fly at half-staff.
For many Americans, demands for a
clenched-fist response from the Bush
administration came quickly. But the
more they talked, the more the anger of
many Americans was smothered in the
shadows that surrounded their enemy.
''The first thing I thought of was Pearl
Harbor.'' said Hal Freeman, a security
guard in a Los Angeles office building.
''It's a wake-up call for the United States.
It's something we've needed for a long
 The Top Movies of Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Per Thtr
Movie Distributor Genre Gross Change Thtrs. Total Gross Days
.
1 (1) The Musketeer Universal Adventure $451,03 - 2,438 $185 $11,348,890 5
0 22.92%
2 (4) Jeepers Creepers MGM Horror $295,81 - 2,944 $100 $25,101,166 12
1 30.42%
3 (2) Rock Star Warner Bros. Drama $287,10 - 2,525 $114 $6,788,483 5
0 40.53%
4 (6) American Pie 2 Universal Comedy $277,75 - 2,777 $100 $131,772,11 33
0 13.04% 4
5 (5) The Others Miramax Horror $268,70 - 2,737 $98 $68,166,642 33
8 29.62%
6 (7) Rush Hour 2 New Line Action $257,42 -5.06% 2,546 $101 $206,635,53 40
3 3
7 (3) Two Can Play That Sony Pictures Romantic $237,25 - 1,297 $183 $8,421,158 5
Game Comedy 6 48.75%
8 (10 O (Othello) Lionsgate Drama $167,46 -5.76% 1,464 $114 $11,100,160 12
) 5
9 (9) Jay and Silent Bob Miramax/Dimension Comedy $155,95 - 2,153 $72 $25,970,036 19
Strike Back 4 24.55%
10 (8) Rat Race Paramount Pictures Comedy $152,31 - 2,551 $60 $43,644,093 26
9 28.43%

Top ten Albums on September 12, 2001

Now- Maxwell

Project English- Juvenile

Now 7- Various Artists

Songs In A Minor- Alicia Keys

Celebrity- 'N Sync

Eternal- The Isley Brothers Featuring

Ronald Isley AKA Mr. Biggs

[Hybrid Theory]- Linkin Park

8701- Usher

Break The Cycle- Staind

J.Lo- Jennifer Lopez

 When Browne was asked whether that decision make every effort to secure a safe environment,''
Many Sporting would affect the league's thinking now, he said, Mansur said. ''On Saturday, we have 11 games
''We'll do the right thing.'' scheduled. Before then, we will be making a
Events Called Off or decision and talking to the clubs about their
putting on those games.''
Postponed The first two games of this week's college football
schedule, both at Atlantic Coast Conference sites,
have already been called off: Penn State at One European hockey game was canceled in
By FRANK LITSKY and LENA WILLIAMS Published: Virginia, and Ohio University at North Carolina Germany. The Nuremberg Ice Tigers, who have
Wednesday, September 12, 2001 State. The conference shut down all sports events three American players, voted not to play last
through tomorrow. night.
The terrorist attacks yesterday caused the
cancellation or postponement of numerous sports The National Collegiate Athletic Association left it In Columbus, Ohio, last night's doubleheader in
events in the United States. up to conferences and colleges to decide whether to the Nike U.S. Women's Cup was canceled, and the
postone or cancel other weekend games. In a players were unsure about the rest of the schedule.
Last night, 15 major league baseball games, conference call yesterday, the commissioners of the The American players, who were to play Japan last
including the Chicago White Sox at the Yankees N.C.A.A.'s largest conferences discussed their night, were told to stay close to their rooms.
and the Mets against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, options. One of them, Mike Tranghese, said his Big
were postponed. A baseball spokesman, Matthew East Conference would decide today about this ''We always travel with strong security with our
Gould, said there had been no decision on whether weekend's games. team, and a person is with us now who handles it,''
to reschedule them. said Julie Foudy, one of the American stars. ''We
Brown, part of the Ivy League, canceled its football had a security briefing at lunch time. They want us
Major League Soccer postponed its four games game Saturday at San Diego. U.C.L.A. and to stay in the hotel and stay in groups. We've been
scheduled for tonight, among them the MetroStars Southern California postponed all sports events reassured everything is safe here.''
against the Miami Fusion at Giants Stadium. through the weekend except for Saturday night's
U.C.L.A.-Arizona State football game. Elsewhere in sports:
The National Football League said it expected to
decide today or tomorrow whether it would play its Madison Square Garden officials said they would PROFESSIONAL GOLF -- The Professional
games scheduled for Sunday and Monday. decide today whether Saturday night's Golfers' Association postponed tomorrow's
middleweight championship bout between Bernard opening rounds of the American Express
''We are gathering information and speaking to Hopkins and Felix Trinidad would go on. Championships (with Tiger Woods) in St. Louis,
different parties, including our own clubs,'' said the Tampa Bay Classic in Palm Harbor, Fla., and
Joe Browne, an N.F.L. senior vice president. ''We The Hopkins-Trinidad fight is the last in a the Buy.Com Tour's Oregon Classic in Junction
would expect something definite within the next 24 tournament in boxing's strongest division. The City, Ore. The L.P.G.A. Tour has not decided
to 48 hours. We are making sure our employees fighters were scheduled to work out at 1 p.m. whether to play its tournament scheduled to start
and families are doing O.K. We have one or two yesterday at the Waterfront Gym on New Street, tomorrow in Portland, Ore.
family members unaccounted for who work in and near the World Trade Center. The workout was
around the World Trade Center.'' canceled and today's 11 a.m. news conference at the METROPOLITAN AREA GOLF -- Yesterday's
Theater at Madison Square Garden was postponed. scheduled start of the Metropolitan Professional
When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated Golfers' Association three-day championship at the
on Nov. 22, 1963, a Thursday, Pete Rozelle, then The National Hockey League opened training Inwood (N.Y.) Country Club was called off. The
the N.F.L. commissioner, decided that the camps yesterday. Bernadette Mansur, the league's organization said the tournament would not be
weekend games would be played. The rival group vice president for communications, said that played this week and would be rescheduled or
American Football League called off its games. the day consisted primarily of medical canceled. The Long Island Golf Association's
examinations of players. women's amateur championship at Bethpage State
N.F.L. officials are still sensitive about the action Park's Yellow Course was cut from two days to one,
38 years later. Rozelle said years later that his ''We have been in touch with all the clubs to tell and several women whose husbands worked at the
decision to continue play had been the worst them if they conduct training camp activity to World Trade Center left before finishing the first
mistake of his career. round.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL -- Last night's minor
league playoff games were postponed in nine
leagues: International, Pacific Coast, Eastern,
Southern, Texas, California, Florida State, Midwest
and South Atlantic. No New York-Penn League
playoff game, between Brooklyn and Williamsport,
was scheduled last night.

HORSE RACING -- All live racing around the

country, including the Meadowlands, Yonkers
Raceway, Calder, Laurel, Pimlico, Philadelphia Park
and Delaware Park, was canceled through today.

AUTO RACING -- Nascar canceled qualifying for its

events in Loudon, N.H., this weekend. The Indy
Racing League said a decision would be made today
on Sunday's Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in
Fort Worth.
Press International
September 12, 2001