Episode 125: Dumb Question #4

In 1993, there was a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center that was the precursor to the infamous 9/11 attack in 2001. Seven men engineered a van bomb that exploded in the garage of the building, leaving a 100-foot crater reaching several stories deep and more stories high.

The van was blown to smithereens. In spite of the van's condition, the FBI was able to extract the VIN number. At least six people were killed initially. Mohammad Salameh had rented the van from a nearby shop for a $400 deposit.

The garage in the WTC after the blast.

A tremendous amount of explosives was ultimately found in an apartment and the rented van was stuffed with as many as possible. for its job.

As the furor was raised at the bomb site, Salameh contacted the rental shop more than once.

"Can I get my deposit back?"

The FBI Swat team picked him up as well as five other terrorists.