WTC 1993 Bombing - There were warnings

[DoYouEverWonder]

apparently there were a number of warnings and apparently the Port Authority was either in denial or once again LIHOP.


According to court transcriptions, everyone from Scotland Yard to the FBI tried to warn the Port Authority that a terrorist attack on the WTC, involving car bombs in the parking gararge and/or ramps was very likely. The PA set up a terrorist planning office in the early 80's to study the problem. When they didn't like their findings and recommendations, they went to the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC - gee, haven't we heard of them before?) for a second opinion. Apparently, they didn't like those findings either, so they went to Securacom (gee, haven't we heard of them before?) for a third opinion.

On January 23, 1993, one month before the bombing, the Port Authority received an intelligence report from the FBI that there was a threat from the MidEast to blow up a major office building in New York.

On February 26, 1993, at 12:18 p.m., a bomb exploded beneath the WTC, on the B-2 level of the underground parking garage, on a ramp that leads toward an exit from the garage.

Matter of World Trade Ctr. Bombing Litig.

Supreme Court, New York County, January 20, 2004

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2004/2004_24030.htm

<snip>

In 1991, because of the Gulf War and the increased risk of terrorism to United States targets (see Caram affidavit ¶ 30), the Port Authority commissioned another security consulting firm, Burns and Roe Securacom, to prepare reports. Securacom was told by the Port Authority that the WTC was a terrorist target, and the report would help it plan its capital expenditures to maintain its competitive status with nearby buildings that offered more advanced security features. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 39.) Securacom's draft report recognized that in the "aftermath of MidEast events," there would be a significant increase in "international activities." (Defendant's exhibit X at 000055 PASD.) It included the subgrade utilities and the parking garage <*8>as areas of vulnerability. (Defendent's exhibit X at 000058, 000064 PASD.) Its final report recommended that the WTC adopt a master plan approach to the development of security systems. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 27.)

On January 23, 1993, one month before the bombing, the Port Authority received an intelligence report from the FBI that there was a threat from the MidEast to blow up a major office building in New York. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 15 ; Caram affidavit ¶ 31; affidavit of Joseph Martella, dated Nov. 15, 2002, ¶ 26.) Some heightened security measures were implemented over that weekend (Jan. 23 was a Friday) as a result, including some increased patrols around the perimeter, which patrols also drove through the underground areas, but these were scaled back after the weekend was over. (Martella affidavit ¶ 26; plaintiffs' exhibit 15 .)

F. The Bombing

On February 26, 1993, at 12:18 p.m., a bomb exploded beneath the WTC, on the B-2 level of the underground parking garage, on a ramp that leads toward an exit from the garage. (See affidavit of Jan Gilhooly, dated Dec. 23, 2002.) The explosion had the force of 1,500 pounds of dynamite. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 65 .) The investigation revealed that the bomb had been detonated in a yellow van parked on the ramp of the public parking garage. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 64 .) Six people were killed, and many, many more were injured, mostly from smoke inhalation. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 65 .) There was evidence that the perpetrators had made several surveillance visits to the garage, and drew maps of the garage. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 15 .) The explosion made a crater six stories deep, compressed several levels of concrete slab, blew down a wall onto the PATH concourse, and destroyed the walls of a number of elevator shafts. (Plaintiffs' exhibits 64 , 63 .) The explosion destroyed the communications system, the police area and operations control center, and vital utility systems, including water and electrical, and fire standpipes. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 65 .) Because of the loss of the operations control center, the Port Authority lost the ability to communicate with tenants and their employees in the complex, and to institute its emergency evacuation procedures. (Plaintiffs' exhibit 64 .)

Lot's more info at the link.

[petgoat]

1. Read "1000 Years for Revenge" by Peter Lance

The FBI informant Emad Salem was so close to the 93 bomb plot that he
proposed to substitute harmless powder for the explosives.

His bosses overruled him and the bombing went forward. 6 people were
killed.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Funny thing that I just found out about the 1993 bombings

Once again whoever was behind the attack had to know the buildings very well. The bombing happened under the plaza and not under either building. The parking garage where the truck exploded was directly over the chiller systems for the complex. Extensive repairs to the physical plant that provided AC to the buildings had to be done. Without the bombing there would have been no excuse or need for anyone to change out this equipment and for any of the extensive modifications that were made to the buildings has a result. Same thing with WTC 7. They used the bombings for their excuse to put Rudy's OEM bunker in there, again requiring extensive modifications to the buildings.

The OCTers who claim that it would have taken years to rig the buildings for CD may be right. What they omit is that the people involved created the opportunities to make these modifications and they had 8 years to do it.

[petgoat]

3. What are you, some kind of paranoid conspiracy nut? ;>)

Good points. Note also the FDNY accountant Ahmed Amin Refai, again according
to Peter Lance, dug the WTC blueprints out of the trash before the 93 bombing.

http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/oct03/lance4.htm

[dailykoff]

4. Interesting!

So maybe '93 wasn't a botched operation after all?

[bushatbooker]

5. Hey, Securacom! Where have we heard that name before?

;)