On February 26, 1993, a bomb explodes in the parking
garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York City. Six people died and
1,000 were injured by the powerful blast, which also caused the evacuation
of thousands of people from the Twin Towers. Investigators at the
bomb scene found a section of a van frame that had been at the center of the
blast. The van's vehicle identification number was still visible, leading
detectives to the Ryder Rental Agency in Jersey City, New Jersey. Their records
indicated that Mohammed Salameh had rented the van and reported it stolen on
February 25. Salameh was already in the FBI's database as a potential
terrorist, so agents knew that they had probably found their man. Salameh
compounded his mistake by insisting that Ryder return his $400 deposit. When he
returned to collect it, the FBI arrested him. A search of his home and records
led to two other suspects.
Meanwhile, the owner of a storage facility in Jersey City
came forward to say that he had seen four men loading a Ryder van on February
25. When this storage space was checked, they found enough chemicals, including
very unstable nitroglycerin, to make another massive bomb. Investigators also
found videotapes with instructions on bomb making that led to the arrest of a
fourth suspect. Other evidence showed that one of the terrorists had bought
hydrogen tanks from AGL Welding Supply in New Jersey. In the wreckage under the
World Trade Center, three tanks marked "AGL Welding" were found. In
addition, the terrorists had sent a letter to the New York Times
claiming responsibility for the blast. Portions of this letter were found
on a computer desk taken from a suspect's office. Finally, DNA
analysis of saliva on the envelope matched that of the suspect. The wealth of
evidence resulted in easy convictions, and each of the men were sentenced to
over 200 years in prison.
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