Re WTC 1993...lots of sources and cyanide...We'd all better take chemical AND biological AND nuclear seriously as WMD...not just nuclear...
fas.org
The National Interest, Winter, 1995/96
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMB:
Who is Ramzi Yousef? And Why It Matters
by Laurie Mylroie
ACCORDING TO THE presiding judge in last year's trial, the bombing of New York's World Trade Center on February 26, 1993 was meant to topple the city's tallest tower onto its twin, amid a cloud of cyanide gas. Had the attack gone as planned, tens of thousands of Americans would have died. Instead, as we know, one tower did not fall on the other, and, rather than vaporizing, the cyanide gas burnt up in the heat of the explosion. "Only" six people died.
Few Americans are aware of the true scale of the destructive ambition behind that bomb, this despite the fact that two years later, the key figure responsible for building it--a man who had entered the United Stares on an Iraqi passport under the name of Ramzi Yousef--was involved in another stupendous bombing conspiracy. In January 1995, Yousef and his associates plotted to blow up eleven U.S. commercial aircraft in one spectacular day of terrorist rage. The bombs were to be made of a liquid explosive designed to pass through airport metal detectors. But while mixing his chemical brew in a Manila apartment, Yousef started a fire. He was forced to flee, leaving behind a computer that contained the information that led to his arrest a month later in Pakistan. Among the items found in his possession was a letter threatening Filipino interests if a comrade held in custody were not released. It claimed the "ability to make and use chemicals and poisonous gas... for use against vital institutions and residential populations and the sources of drinking water." [1] Quickly extradited, he is now in U.S. custody awaiting trial this spring. (con't)
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terrorismreporter.com
World Trade Center 1993 Bombing
On February 26, 1993 more than 1,000 lb. of explosives shook the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York leaving six people dead and over 1,000 injured.
The explosion created a crater three stories deep in the parking garage and the lower part of the tower causing millions dollars worth of damage. Many people had to be taken to the neighboring hospitals due to injuries and breathing difficulties from the resulting smoke.
Several years later, a number of horrendous details were discovered about the attack. For instance, it turned out that the terrorists were planning to topple the taller tower of the World Trade Center into its twin tower while releasing a cloud of cyanide gas into the air. Luckily, the heat of the explosion burnt the gas and the tower managed to withstand the brutal explosion.
The mastermind behind this terrorist attack turned out to be Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, who was born in either Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, or United Arab Emirates. (source) Yousef fled the U.S. after the attack and in 1995 was suspected of plotting an airline bombing of 11 U.S. airplanes. (source, source) He was also linked to the failed plots to assassinate Pope John Paul II and Bill Clinton. (source)
The investigation into the World Trade Center bombing uncovered a new organization formed of "loose networks" of Islamic militants. That investigation ultimately lead to the discovery of bin Laden and his terrorist network al Qaeda.
At the time, the question was raised whether the World Trade Center bombing was the beginning of a new kind of global terrorism centered around religious and ideological beliefs rather than any specific state or particular groups. (source, source)
In 1995, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef was finally captured and extradited from Pakistan to the United States. (source) He was tried in the U.S. court and on November 12 convicted of the World Trade Center bombing.
Yousef's partner, Abdul Rahman Yasin also fled the country after the attack. He is still at large and wanted by the authorities (source) for up to $5,000,000 in reward.
Links/Sources: U.S. State Dept, Washington Post, source
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Other interesting sites re WTC 1993 and 2001
historychannel.com
interpol.int |
