Six were killed and 1,000 injured in a bomb attack which left a 60ft wide crater and $500million in damage. The main structure was undamaged in the 12:18 p.m explosion.

Mario Cuomo, New York's state governor, told journalists:

"We all have that feeling of being violated. No foreign people or force has ever done this to us. Until now we were invulnerable."

Thousands of office workers were trapped and smoke filled offices.

The lifts failed and the lights were off leading to pandemonium amongst the 100,000 workers in the building.

People did not know whether to stay in their offices or brave the journey down via the smoke-filled stairwells.

In a horribly ironic comment, in view of events in September 2001, 34 year old broker, Bruce Pomper told reporters:

"It felt like an airplane hit the building."