16th September 1920: The Wall Street bombing kills 38 people in New York

Описание: Wall Street’s role in America’s financial system dates back to the Buttonwood Agreement of 1792 and, by the early 20th century, it was seen by many as the epicentre of the nation’s economy. At its heart lay the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street and, just yards away across Broad Street, 23 Wall Street that served as the headquarters of the J.P. Morgan bank.

Shortly before noon on 16 September 1920 a horse-drawn wagon drew up in front of the U.S. Assay Office that faced the J.P. Morgan building. The street was beginning to fill with the lunchtime rush, the people unware that the wagon they were passing was loaded with 500 pounds of dynamite and hundreds of heavy cast-iron weights.

Timed to detonate shortly after the unknown driver disappeared into the crowd, the blast sent iron shrapnel from the weights tearing through the air as far as the docks three-quarters of a mile away. More than 30 people died at the scene and hundreds more were injured, while approximately $2 million of damage was caused to surrounding buildings that is still visible as pockmarks in the walls.

Investigations were promptly launched by the New York Police and Fire Departments, the Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service. Nevertheless, the case was never solved although most commentators agree that the attack was likely carried out by Italian anarchists.

The Wall Street bombing remained the deadliest terrorist incident in America until the Oklahoma City bombing by white nationalist Timothy McVeigh more than 70 years later.