11th September 2000	11th September 2001

Jet-fuel fireballs billowed orange when two jetliners powered into the tallest buildings on the New York City skyline. The air fast turned black and acrid, and some workers jumped from shattered windows of the World Trade Center's twin towers as debris and shredded office supplies showered the streets of lower Manhattan.

Refugees from the burning buildings raced and staggered outside into what had been, a few minutes earlier, a crystalline day. Some screamed, others cried out, others sat on curbsides in mute shock, their faces and their business suits streaked with soot. The unhurt supported the wounded, with one man helping a stranger who had lost much of his skin.

Terrorists had exploded their bombs before, including one at this very same place, but no one had ever experienced anything as stunning as today's attack on the World Trade Center. Witnesses described watching one of the towers collapse, saying it looked as though one of the best-known landmarks in the country had simply melted.

Fireman Carlos Mainz, draped in soot, lined up victims beside the smoldering buildings. "Some were alive, some were dead, some were really badly burned," Mainz said. "It just rained and rained soot, and it was dark. When you see cops running, you know you've got no chance.

Mayor Rudolph W. Guliani said the attack caused a "horrendous number of lives lost" at the twin towers, where about 50,000 people worked. The first plane hit shortly before 9 a.m., and the second about 25 minutes later. No accurate estimate of the number of casualties was available this afternoon.

Giuliani ordered an evacuation of the lower part of Manhattan and said the primary election for the city had been canceled. Subway service stopped. Airports were closed. With cellular telephone systems out of service, Manhattanites lined up at phone booths.Clusters of people gathered around hot dog stands to listen to radios. Parents pulled their children from schools. New York Gov. George Partake announced he was sending National Guard units.