New York City is commemorating the anniversary of the 1993 bombing at the old World Trade Center, a tragic event that claimed the lives of six individuals and left over 1,000 others injured. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is organizing a memorial Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan, followed by a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to honor victims’ families, survivors, first responders, and the community of lower Manhattan.
At 12:18 p.m., a bell will toll to signify the exact time of the Feb. 26 attack, and a moment of silence will be observed to pay tribute to the victims, whose names are etched on the memorial pools at the Sept. 11 site. The 1993 bombing, orchestrated by Islamic extremists as a response to U.S. policies in the Middle East, resulted in the conviction of six individuals, including the alleged mastermind Ramzi Yousef. One suspect remains on the FBI’s most wanted list.
This attack foreshadowed the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists orchestrated the deadliest assault on American soil, causing the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and claiming nearly 3,000 lives. Notably, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the uncle of Ramzi Yousef, later claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, which involved hijacked planes being used as weapons against iconic buildings in New York City.