ABC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT {COVERAGE OF TERRORIST
ATTACKS} {TERRORIST ATTACKS} (TV)
Summary
This "ABC News Special Report" presents coverage of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath, as aired on ABC affiliate KABC-TV (Los Angeles). This coverage begins at 1:21 p.m. EDT. As this tape begins, anchor Peter Jennings and reporter John Miller discuss examples of newly instituted security measures in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Miller reveals that the state of Oklahoma has closed all government buildings and has allocated extra police officers to guard convicted American terrorist Terry Nichols, who is in prison in the state. Jennings mentions that Disney World in Florida and Knotts Berry Farm in Los Angeles have closed their amusement parks for the day. Jennings then gives an update on the number of casualties that have been reported so far, but Miller questions the reliability of the statistics that have surfaced to date. Diane Sawyer then reports on developments at the most prominent hospital in lower Manhattan, St. Vincent's. She also speaks about the Red Cross's efforts to collect blood donations. White House reporter Terry Moran then files a report about the whereabouts of President Bush. Next, Linda Douglass interviews the chair of the Senate foreign-relations committee, Joe Biden (D-Del.), who urges Congress to go back into session immediately. Biden also explains that although House minority leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) is out of town, Senate majority leader Tom Daschle (D-S. Dak.) has decided to remain in the capital. Jennings then speaks with reporter Pierre Thomas about the recent, suddenly relevant debate about whether the section of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House should have been re-opened following a foiled terrorist attack on the residence. Jennings then takes a phone call from Sandy Berger, the national security advisor during the Clinton administration, who expresses confidence in the government's ability to identify those who planned the attacks. Next, Lynn Sherr gives a comprehensive report on the information available about the crashed airplanes: she reports that American Airlines Flight 77 from Dulles to Los Angeles hit the Pentagon; United Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles hit one Twin Tower first, after which American Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles hit the other tower; and United Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco crashed in Pennsylvania. Military analyst Tony Cordesman then touches on the terrorists' ability to pull off an attack as coordinated as this one; Cordesman suggests that all that the hijackers needed to make the plan work was "ideological commitment." Reporter Vince Cannistraro then tells Jennings that all evidence at this stage points to the Al Qaeda terrorist network, but Jennings cautions him to not jump to conclusions. Cannistraro then talks about the recent assassination of Afghan rebel leader Ahmed Shah Massoud. At the end of the tape, reporters George Stephanopoulos and Bob Jamieson are speaking to Jennings from their posts in Washington, D.C.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 11, 2001 10:20 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:03:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:66629
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: Disasters; Hijacking of aircraft; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Terrorism
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Jennings … Anchor
- Vince Cannistraro … Reporter
- Tony Cordesman … Reporter
- Linda Douglass … Reporter
- Bob Jamieson … Reporter
- John Miller … Reporter
- Terry Moran … Reporter
- Diane Sawyer … Reporter
- Lynn Sherr … Reporter
- George Stephanopoulos … Reporter
- Pierre Thomas … Reporter
- Sandy Berger
- Joseph Biden
- George W. Bush
- Tom Daschle
- Richard Gephardt
- Ahmed Shah Massoud
- Terry Nichols