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CNN Live Event/Special

A Short Video of Yesterday's Events

Aired September 12, 2001 - 01:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: And actually, you know, one of - one of the things we've been hearing later this evening is that there was even maybe cell phone calls coming from that area. So still lots to sort out in New York.

But right now, we want to go to CNN's Bill Hemmer, who's got a look at the day's terrible events. Let's look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 8:45 a.m. east coast time, an airliner smashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Minutes later, 9:03 a.m., a second jet slams into the south tower.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you can see the people jumping out the window. They're jumping out the window right now.

HEMMER: Officials in New York closed airports around the city, tunnels and bridges shut down. At 9:30, President Bush tells the world the U.S. has been hit by an apparent terrorist attack. Within 10 minutes, the FAA shuts down every airport in the country, the first time this has ever happened.

9:45, an explosion at the Pentagon, after another plane slams into the headquarters and the symbol of the U.S. military. Ten o'clock, New York City, the south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, raining debris onto the streets. Less than 30 minutes later, as evacuations continue, the north tower falls.

DR. MARK HEATH, AMATEUR VIDEO: Here it comes. I'm getting behind a car.

HEMMER: In that same half hour, back in Washington, part of the Pentagon collapses. Further west, outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a plane crash reported in Somerset County. Plans go into effect to protect the government. Much of Washington is shut down. Federal buildings and the White House are evacuated. Members of Congress point to the possibility the attacks are the responsibility of Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi millionaire blamed for other terrorist attacks.

As part of emergency measures, the President cut short his trip in Florida, first making a stop in Louisiana, declaring the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible. He's later flown to Nebraska, where he convenes with security officials. 1:44 p.m., a state of emergency declared in Washington, DC. Two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and five other warships leave Norfolk, Virginia, headed to the New York City area. The FBI says it believes the four missing planes were hijacked and is working on the assumption the morning's events were a coordinated terrorist attack.

Then, about six o'clock Eastern time, explosions rocked Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan. The White House denies this was any sort of retaliatory strike but rather part of the ongoing civil war in that country.

Bill Hemmer, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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