Poppy Bilderbeck
A receipt shows what is believed to be the last purchase made in the World Trade Center before the Twin Towers were completely destroyed.
On September 11, 2001 - 23 years ago yesterday - four coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by Islamist extremist group al-Qaeda, sending two planes crashing into the North and South Towers (the Twin Towers) of the World Trade Center complex in New York, a third plane crashing into the Pentagon and a fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.
Nine minutes after the first plane struck, a purchase was made in the trade center.
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The first plane - Flight 11 - is reported as having hit between floor 93 to 99 of the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46am.
And a receipt later came to light, generated from one of the shops in the World Trade Center, time-stamped as being printed at 8:55am - nine minutes after the first attack.
The story of the receipt was detailed by author and Wall Street Journal writer Dean Rotbart in his book September Twelfth - the book detailing stories and experiences from that very day of those working in the Wall Street Journal headquarters located directly across the street from the World Trade Center.
Rotbart explains that then-senior editor at The Wall Street Journal, Joanne Lipman, went to the Lechters Housewares store 'located on the concourse of the World Trade Center' on the morning of September 11 in a bid to buy her sixth-grade daughter, Rebecca Distler, a gift for turning 11 as well as for starting at a new school.
A receipt for what is likely the last sale made at the World Trade Center, two magnets purchased on September 11, 2001, nine minutes after the first plane struck. pic.twitter.com/dhmr9vLdG7
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) September 11, 2024
Rotbart writes Rebecca had asked her mom for 'refrigerator magnets for her locker' at her new school.
"When [Lipman] spotted a violin-shaped magnet, she knew it would be perfect for Rebecca. The novelty had a button in the middle that, when pushed, played a little tune. Lipman pressed it idly while waiting to check out.
"For good measure, Lipman also grabbed a magnet in the shape of a flip mobile phone," he continues, as quoted by PR Newswire.
However, as she was waiting to pay, Lipman reportedly heard a 'commotion' and saw security ushering people out of the building, some who'd begun 'running'.
The cashier suggested they should 'get out of there' but determined to get her daughter her birthday magnets, Lipman reportedly pushed to pay for them - the receipt showing the two magnets came to a total of $10.83.
She paid with a $20 note and received $9.17 in change alongside the receipt, which she has reportedly kept to this day.
If you've been affected by the contents of this article you can find more information and support at the VOICES Center for Resilience via their website.