CNN reported, two hours after the attack, that Israel ordered the evacuation of all its diplomatic missions throughout the world. A spokesman for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, headed by Naif Hawatme, denied a report on Abu Dhabi television claiming that it had taken responsibility for the cataclysmic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Yasser Arafat condemned the attacks. State Department officials were quoted unofficially as saying that Palestinian terror organizations are claiming responsibility for the attacks.

BBC reported that Palestinians in the autonomous areas reacted with joy to the news of the WTC bombing. Arabs in eastern Jerusalem distributed candies to children in the streets in celebration of the news.

Israel’s IDF Home Front Command has declared an emergency alert, preparing to possibly send emergency aid to the U.S.

Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the WTC, one or two in Washington, and another one - it was not immediately clear under what circumstances - crashed in western Pennsylvania. The White House, the United Nations, and the Sears Tower in Chicago, too, are being evacuated, as are many other Washington and New York buildings.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 12th, 2001 and is filed under news.