Myths amid the mayhem: how rumours overtook realitygreenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread |
TuesdayReport: Various news media said that a car bomb had exploded outside the State Department. Hundreds of Washington workers scurried from nearby offices
Reality: It proved false, as did subsequent reports of further explosions at the US Capitol and the Old Executive office building next to the White House
Report: Another hijacked plane was heading below radar for Washington. It was variously said to be aimed at the White House or the Pentagon, which was already in flames from a first hit
Reality: There was no second plane in Washington
Wednesday
Report: There were 800 dead in the Pentagon. Military officials, who had believed the number to be much lower, were shocked
Reality: The death toll was 190
Report: Widespread rumours of petrol shortages caused queues at thousands of garages across the country and in some cases provoked a sharp rise in prices
Reality: There was never any official suggestion of supply problems and there haven't been any since
Thursday
Report: Five firefighters trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center since Tuesday had been rescued. The story was celebrated around the world
Reality: It wasn't true. Wrong information was proving 'very dangerous and emotionally damaging', complained mayor Rudolph Giuliani
http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2001/09/16/stiusausa01035.html
-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), September 18, 2001