Military

DATE=9/11/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S TERRORISM (L-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-280323

BYLINE=DAVID SWAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-280297 ///

INTRO: The United States is facing what some are calling its second Pearl Harbor -- a devastating airborne terrorist assault on New York City and Washington. The World Trade Center, a landmark of the New York skyline, lies in ruins with uncounted victims injured or dead in the rubble. Another strike tore a gash in the Pentagon near Washington and virtually shut down the federal government. V-O-A's David Swan reports from Washington.

TEXT: The attacks came on what was briefly an ordinary Tuesday morning. As thousands of people arrived at work in the 110-story World Trade Center, a hijacked plane slammed into one of the twin towers. A witness told reporters what he saw.

/// FIRST WITNESS ACT ///

We heard a big bang and then we saw smoke coming out and everybody started running out and we saw the plane on the other side of the building and there was smoke everywhere -- people were jumping out of the windows.

/// END ACT ///

Flames and smoke erupted, billowing high in the air. This man was inside the building when the plane hit.

/// SECOND WITNESS ACT ///

I was on the 36th floor of building one -- all of a sudden it was like an earthquake.

/// END ACT ///

As firefighters and rescue crews fought to save the building and those inside, a second commandeered aircraft flew into the other tower. A young man who was watching from the streets below described the impact.

/// THIRD WITNESS ACT ///

I was just standing here watching the after the first the first plane hit -- I just saw a second plane come in from the south and hit the south tower half way between the bottom and the top of the tower. It's got to be a terrorist attack, I can't tell you anything more than that. I saw the plane hit the building -- I can't say anything...

/// END ACT ///

The Trade Center was shaken but left standing by a terrorist car bomb eight years ago. But this time, both towers collapsed, sending massive clouds of smoke and debris into the sky over Manhattan. The island was sealed off and the Wall Street financial markets shut down. There was no immediate assessment of casualties, but the city's mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, predicted the toll would be tremendous.

Meanwhile, at about the same time, a third plane hit the Pentagon near Washington. The jet smashed almost to the center of the massive office building, the most prominent symbol of American military power. It touched off a fire that burned for hours, forcing thousands of military and civilian employees to flee.

Across the Potomac River, the White House, the Capitol and most of official Washington shut down. Frightened government workers poured into the streets, jamming exit routes from the city.

/// OPT /// However, there are no confirmed reports of injuries or other incidents outside the Pentagon. /// END OPT ///

President Bush broke off a visit to Florida but did not return immediately to Washington, flying instead to an air base in (the southern state of) Louisiana. From there, he promised to hunt down and punish those responsible for what he called cowardly acts.

/// BUSH ACT ///

The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake: We will show the world that we will pass this test.

/// END ACT ///

After the statement, the White House took the extraordinary step of flying Mr. Bush to a secret location. Elsewhere, aviation authorities grounded all passenger planes and diverted trans-Atlantic flights to Canada. Everywhere, security was tightened.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the slaughter. Much of the initial speculation centered on exiled Saudi financier Osama bin Laden, who is blamed for a series of previous strikes on U-S targets. The ruling Taleban faction in Afghanistan, which is bin Laden's base of operations, denies that he, or the Taleban, have any connection to the attacks. (Signed)

NEB/DS/JWH