Slashdot Mirror
Attacks On US Continued Reports
I'm still having problems getting news from most normal sites, and we are just barely holding up.
Both world trade towers have collapsed after hijaacked planes crashed into them. New Yorkers are asked to give blood. Pentagon has collapsed after similiar crash. A pilot of another hijaacked plane crashed in a PA field rather then hitting another target in Pitt (unconfirmed). Military is at the highest alert. US Embassy in Oslo evacuated, all israeli embassies evacuated. 2 Flights to LAX lost radio contact. 3 other planes down. London evacuating. Camp David crash is false. Bin Laden threatened about 2 months ago. Many many many dead. Many other cities evacuating and shutting down.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/11/worldtrade.crash/ index.html [cnn.com]
Here it is from CNN, only a synopsis right now.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Terrorists struck the United States Tuesday morning in harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet crashes into significant buildings.
In the first attack, a plane smashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapsed. Sources told CNN that one of the planes was an American Airlines Boeing 767 that had been hijacked after take-off from Boston.
About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, part of which later collapsed.
Sources say a second plane was heading toward the Pentagon; F-16 jets were in the air monitoring it.
The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington evacuated.
In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide have been stopped at their departure airports.
All international flights were diverted to Canada.
Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.
President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to Washington, calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a national tragedy."
In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New York evacuated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was evacuated.
The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and tunnels into the city.
New York's Bellevue Hospital was designated command central for handling the catastrophe. Several hospitals have already reported receiving victims with burns and head injuries.
Large plane crashed 80 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but it was unknown if this crash was connected to terrorist attacks.
U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Oh bother.
DFLP has said that they are not responsible. The TV station confirmed that the call they received this morning was anonymous. High level DFLP officials are in contact with the US gov't, and according to ABC are offering to cooperate fully.
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
We (members of the german army) have been put on alert, people are being revoked from holiday, all system/material checked, no talk policy.
+++ath0
Here is what is on their webpage:
AMERICAN CONFIRMS TWO AIRCRAFT LOST
FORT WORTH, Texas ? American Airlines confirmed today that it lost two aircraft in tragic incidents this morning. American said the flights were Flight 11, a Boeing 767 en route from Boston to Los Angeles with 81 passengers, nine flight attendants and two pilots; and Flight 77, a Boeing 757 operating from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles with 58 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots.
Because of the heightened security due to the nature of today?s events, American said it is working closely with U.S. government authorities and will not release more information at this time.
The government has shut down the entire air traffic system in the United States. American, TWA and American Eagle will not operate.
"We are horrified by these tragic events," said Donald J. Carty, chairman and CEO of American Airlines. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all involved."
Media calls should be directed to the FBI. Customers who wish to receive information about relatives should call American?s response number at 1-800-245-0999.
Updated information about this morning's incident in New York will be available here as soon as it is verified. Check back frequently and refresh your browser often to make sure you have the most current information.
Latest on the news is that the Palestinians have condemmned the attack, attention has shifted to Bin Laden who has in fact threatened us a while ago. Estimates on ABC were in the 50-60,000 dead at the world trade center alone. Pentagon they wer saying like 5,000? its all guesses right now.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&o
Was a 747 jet bound for San Fran. Prayers for those lives lost, and families with loss on this day of infamy.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Just heard a news report that a United flight out of Pittsburgh is confirmed to have been hijacked.
Also a 767 from Boston to LA (flight 175) is out of radio contact and officials are "worried".
The US military is on alert. For security reasons I can't post more details, but the 82nd airborne division has been told to suit up and according to one report one unit is already in the air, though they're not sure where they'll be landing yet. Speculation is that they'll land at a known friendly base in the middle east and then decide where to go from there.
Obviously, I can't reveal my source for this, but its a close relative who is 'in the know'.
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
A pilot of another hijaacked plane crashed in a PA field rather then hitting another target in Pitt.
I reported that in #slashdot. It is what I hard from my roommate who heard it from her ex-bf who is a coast guard pilot. I cannot vouch for it being true, it comes from no official news source (as of this writing). I've also heard that it may have been shot down.
Finkployd
my prayers are with the victims and their families.
Hospitals are reportedly desperate for blood donations. If in the affected states please consider donating if it is practical where you are.
Portal Of Evil News
www.poenews.com
Shameless Self Promotion : Webhosting at Blender Networks.
He got out. Maybe many other have. there are almost 40-500 thousand people in those buildings.
If you are in NYC, get off the phone lines NOW, and give blood.
Peace, or Not?
All Canadian Airports are shutdown, except for flights that are already in the air. They are providing landing for those planes.
The Canadian/US border is closed.
Canadian Military is on alert, and miltary police are in key locations.
Toronto Stock Exchange is closed.
(Disclaimer: IANANS - I Am Not A News Service)
Here's the latest from Maryland, which is "right next door" to DC:
* Maryland is tightening security all throught the state.
* AMTRAK Baltimore Penn Station is shut down.
* BWI Airport is accepting landings only, no flights out.
* All schools are closing, and Annapolis's (state capital) MD State Circle (state capital) is closed to all but emergency traffic.
* State Police are asking folks to limit phone use, both landline and cell.
--
# Canmephians for a better Linux Kernel
$Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.net";
PLEASE Please please try to avoid getting hysterical about this. I'm finding message boards filled with frothing hatred, wanting bloody revenge against entire countries.
Don't escalate this into war. There are no winners if it goes to war. We'll all just end up discovering that the terrosits do nukes. Some major American city will be vapourized in re-retaliation.
And get in touch with your State and Federal representatives. Protest any movement toward restricting your personal freedoms -- because they are going to lock you down. Protest any over-aggression -- because you will pay when the terrorists re-retaliate.
Time is NOT of the essence! Insist that things move carefully and cautiously. The world is in a delicate situation for the next few months. Treat it like a fragile, crystal bowl... and don't drop it.
--
Don't like it? Respond with words, not karma.
I don't remember which book of his it was, but it started with a plane hitting the capitol building, and ended with biological attacks against the US.
Thank goodness i'm canadian.
-Michael Roy Some people are like Slinkies. Not really useful, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down
I can see where the towers of the trade center used to be from my bedroom on 14th St. I saw just after the second plane hit and just after the 1st tower fell. I watched the 2nd tower fall. One of my friends is still missing. I'm trying to keep myself busy. You can see pictures on my site.
I'd estimate the death toll at betwen 20 and 50 thousand here. I believe approximately 40 thousand people work in the entire world trade complex and the attacks seem to be timed for just when everyone got work. I used to work in Tower 2, 15th Floor.
I'll try and get a webcam up, too.
Portable versions of Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, etc
http://www.camcentral.com/camviewer.asp?script=sta te&item=WashingtonDC&page=1&id=7464
State police have asked folks to limit phone usage in the state of Maryland. Please limit your useage, and tune into local TV stations (2, 11, 13) for more information.
--
# Canmephians for a better Linux Kernel
$Stalag99{"URL"}="http://stalag99.net";
Reported on CBS MarketWatch: the Taleban ambassador to Pakistan has condemned this.
I'm watching BBC News 24, and Arafat has also condemned this, saying he was deeply shocked.
Listening for the sound of the coming rain...
* One plane on the way to SF is down near Pittsburg (Flight 193)
* TransAmerica building closed.
* Public buildings closed.
* Schools closed.
* Police in a high state of alert.
* Bridges ARE open.
* Public Transit IS open.
* All airports are of course closed.
--- I do not moderate.
I'd donate blood of course, but unfortunatly, at my high school, they have just put in a lock-down for the day, and have cancelled the blood drive that was happening from the beginning of this morning.
Just consider the irony.
Don't eat your soul to fill your belly.
conesus.com
The Taleban have said that Osama Bin-Laden could not have been involved in this (BBC News 24)
Remember that groups with an interest here are at some point going to be queuing up to claim responsibility (the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine already have - CBS MarketWatch) so use a small pinch of salt for that one...
Listening for the sound of the coming rain...
Find your local red cross chapter and donate!!!
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
EXACTLY!
Our rights have been trampled AND WE PUT UP WITH IT.
Who wants to make a bet that martial law and THE SUSPENSION OF OUR CONSTITUTION will be attempted.
Although, I believe that even during the Civil War, Lincoln's suspension of the Constitution was illegal.
But, if you don't have a 2nd Amendment protecting your firearms ownership, who the hell can stop it.
More police! They'll protect us...
...NOT!
And you think what, that terrorists could have nuked this time, and were just going easy wiping out the WTC?
First of all, there's no one to go to war with. You can expect, however, that if it turns out a nation is harboring terrorists against justice, action will be taken.
Second of all, unless we are isolationists again, we're going to piss someone off somewhere. It is the unenviable consequence of world leadership. Not retaliating is not protection against further attacks. If we identify a perpetrator, there will be awful consequences.
Certainly, we must be cautious. We should take things slowly. Any response should be well-considered and deliberate...but not pacifistic.
Also, for those of you who live with an arabian population, or any other population likely to be targetted by irrational retaliation, don't let others take their anger out on other Americans, regardless of their ethnic origins. Arabian-Americans are Americans, too.
Bin Laden warned of "unprecedented" attack
London - Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he and his
followers would carry out an unprecedented attack on US interests for its support of
Israel, an Arab journalist with access to him said on Tuesday.
Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said
Islamic fundamentalists led by bin Laden was "almost certainly" behind the attack of
the World Trade Center in New York.
"It is most likely the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Osama bin Laden warned three
weeks ago that he would attack American interests in an unprecedented attack, a
very big one," Atwan told said.
"Personally we received information that he planned very, very big attacks against
American interests. We received several warnings like this. We did not take it so
seriously, preferring to see what would happen before reporting it."
Atwan has interviewed bin Laden and maintains close contacts with his followers.
Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center as office workers
began work on Tuesday morning, causing the south tower to collapse, eyewitnesses
said.
In Washington, another plane crashed next to the Pentagon, a US official said.
Eyewitnesses said the building was being evacuated. The White House and State
Department were also evacuated.
A Palestinian group claimed responsibility, Abu Dhabi television said. President
George W Bush called it an "apparent terrorist attack," and pledged the US
government would "hunt down" those responsible. - Reuters
Published on the Web by IOL on 2001-09-11 16:47:02
For those of you (like myself) who don't have a TV or radio in your cube, and who are bemoaning that there's not enough bandwidth for CNN to serve the entire country simultaneously, try CNET Radio. No pictures, but good radio coverage.
Some good news -- the FAA has just reported that *all* commercial aircraft are now accounted for (there were about 50 in question), and have reported no problems, and are en route to nearby airports.
Ernest MacDougal Campbell III
geek ramblings
High-rise buildings are built to control the spread of fires for long enough to allow people to evacuate safely. There is no capability, however, for fighting a truly large fire on a high floor. In modern steel-frame buildings -- and I don't know if the WTC was built recently enough for this to apply -- the steel is coated with a fireproofing material, and the combination of the fireproofing and the sprinkler system is supposed to provide structural integrity for a period of three to five hours. That's supposed to be long enough to evacuate the building safely. After that even the fireproofing is insufficient to keep the steel from heating to a point where it effectively begins to melt, deforming to a point where the building can no longer hold up under its own weight.
In this case, we weren't even looking at a normal fire. The incident began with a massive, high-speed, intentional impact that sheared off multiple beams, exacerbated by a large explosion from fuel aboard the plane. The initial damage was severe. Furthermore, my brother speculates that the impact likely severed the water pipes that reach the upper floors, leaving water gushing from a single point or a relatively small number of points and rendering the sprinklers largely useless.
Buildings do survive aircraft impacts, incidentally: A plane flew into the Empire State Building in the Sixties, I think, and obviously it's still standing. Anyway, I don't think it's fair to characterize this as a fire causing a building collapse -- it's more like a very large bomb.
"Biped! Good cranial development. Evidently considerable human ancestry."