9-11/WTC7
The original WTC 7 was a 47 storey building in the World Trade Center complex. It was completely destroyed on September 11th, 2001.
Original Building
Opened in 1987, Clad in red exterior masonry, the original WTC7 occupied a trapezoidal footprint. In 1988, Salomon Brothers signed a long-term lease, and became the main tenants of the building.
Only after the building’s destruction on 9/11 did the presence of CIA offices in the building become known. In a NY Times article by James Risen published November 4, 2001, [1] it stated, "The agency's New York station was behind the false front of another federal organization, which intelligence officials requested that The Times not identify. The station was, among other things, a base of operations to spy on and recruit foreign diplomats stationed at the United Nations, while debriefing selected American business executives and others willing to talk to the C.I.A. after returning from overseas."
Other federal agencies with offices in Building 7 were the Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, Secret Service, and Security and Exchange Commission. New York City’s Mayor Giuliani had his Office of Emergency Management on the 23rd floor.
Freefall Collapse
- Full article: 9/11 WTC Building 7 Collapse
- Full article: 9/11 WTC Building 7 Collapse
The building spectacularly collapsed on 9/11. Although no concrete skyscraper had ever collapsed due to fire before, no one was injured by the collapse since firefighters had already been told that it was liable to collapse or demolition. Its collapse had already been announced by CNN and BBC.
Media Blackout of the Collapse
- Full article: WTC7 Collapse/Media Blackout
- Full article: WTC7 Collapse/Media Blackout
The commercially-controlled media had very little to say about the collapse once it had happened, and nothing at all for years afterwards - until it became widely known in 2007 by those researching the events of 9/11 - until producing a number of 'hit pieces' to attempt to discredit those doubting the US government's official story.
- ↑ A Nation Challenged: The Intelligence Agency; Secret C.I.A. Site in New York Was Destroyed on Sept. 11 New York Times 4 November 2001