Ceremony Honors 22nd Anniversary of 1993 Bombing

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the first attack on the World Trade Center, when terrorists detonated about 1,200 pounds of explosives in a rental van in an underground parking garage. Six individuals died, and more than 1,000 were injured.

The 9/11 Memorial held a ceremony today, attended by victims’ family members, Port Authority officials and survivors of the attack.

Following an honor guard procession from NYPD, FDNY and PAPD, short speeches were given by Joe Daniels, 9/11 Memorial president; Pat Foye, Port Authority executive director; and Tony Shorris, first deputy mayor of New York City and former Port Authority executive director.

“We do this because we know and as we’ve said before: what happened on 9/11 didn’t start that day and it certainly didn’t end that day,” Daniels said. “And for those six innocent victims and the more than 1,000 people who were injured in February of 1993, it is amongst our highest obligations to share with our visitors not only who they were as individuals but also how that part of the story fits into the broader narrative.”

At around 12:18 p.m., the time of the attack, Charlie Maikish, director of the World Trade Department on Feb. 26, 1993, led a moment of silence. Family members then placed roses on the victims’ names on the memorial.

Read more about the 1993 bombing or view an interactive timeline detailing the events of that day.

By Jordan Friedman, 9/11 Memorial Research and Digital Projects Associate