In an apparent parallel attack on U.S. financial and military institutions, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center around 9 a.m. yesterday, causing the twin towers to collapse in the heart of New York's financial district. Within the hour, an airliner crashed into the Pentagon, outside Washington, D.C., sending terror across the nation.
"Freedom itself was attacked this morning by faceless cowards. And freedom will be defended," President George W. Bush said at a press conference yesterday afternoon. "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."
In an Oval Office address last night, Bush said the United States would retaliate against "those behind these evil acts," and any country that harbors them.
Though no group claimed responsibility for the attacks, U.S. intelligence officials pointed at Osama bin Laden, a Saudi exile who has professed his hatred of the United States, as the prime suspect.
Officials said the death toll was in the thousands. On a typical day, about 50,000 people work in the Trade Center and 20,000 in the Pentagon.
In fear of further attacks, authorities grounded air traffic, evacuated high-profile buildings and tightened security around the United States.
While rescue workers rummaged through the rubble to reach the injured and dead, missiles and explosions rocked Kabul, Afghanistan — the believed headquarters of bin Laden's network. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ’54 denied U.S. involvement in those bombings.
American Airlines and United Airlines each confirmed losing two planes.
American said it lost Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles and Flight 77 from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles.
United said it lost Flight 93, headed from Newark to San Francisco, near Shanksville, Pa., and another, which left Boston for Los Angeles.
CNN reported there were indications of attempts to divert the United flight from Newark to crash at Camp David, Md., the presidential retreat.
U.S. officials said more attacks could not be ruled out.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A version of this article originally appeared in print on Sept. 12, 2001.
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