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Chronology: All time shown below are approximate Eastern Daylight Times.

Saturday, October 13, 2001

NOTE: Reports from news sources involving movements or operations of United States military personnel NOT confirmed by named U.S. government officials will be labeled as such.

Maps Detailing Allied Attacks (CNN)
Afghanistan Maps and Information (About Geography)
Most Wanted Terrorist List (FBI)

Also Today: The FAA partially lifted the ban on private aviation and will allow all private pilots to fly in the vicinity of 15 major cities by as early as next Wednesday. Non instrument rated pilots and all pilots not filing flight plans had been banned from flying near 30 metropolitan areas since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. [Details from CNN]

• In spite of continued allied attacks, the Taliban issued remained defiant, stating they had no intention of turning anyone over to the United States. [Details from CNN]
• The Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar called for the world's Muslim population to support their cause. "Are some of you on the side of the infidels, or are you with us," Mullah Omar challenged Muslims. 
• Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn confirmed that the letter received yesterday by a Microsoft office in Reno had tested positive for anthrax contamination.
• Vice President Cheney stated that it was not unreasonable to suspect Osama bin Laden of being responsible for the current anthrax-by-mail campaign. [Details from CNN]

10:30 pm - Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar -- members of the Gulf Corporation, agreed to immediately freeze the funds of all groups and individuals name by the U.S. as terrorists or suspected terrorists. [See: Gulf group freezing terrorist suspects' assets (CNN)]

10:15 am - CNN reported that the Pentagon had confirmed the accidental bombing of a civilian residential area near Kabul. According to the Pentagon, the precision-guided bomb had been aimed at a Taliban helicopter on the ground at the Kabul airport, but missed its target by about a mile. The Pentagon could offer no explanation of why the bomb malfunctioned. No casualty figures were available.

10:00 am - In his regular Saturday radio address to the nation, President Bush stated that the initial phases of allied attacks in Afghanistan had begun to break down the communications networks of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan. "American forces dominate the skies over Afghanistan and we will use that dominance to make sure terrorists can no longer freely use Afghanistan as a base of operations," stated the president. Addressing the recent cases of anthrax exposure, Bush assured Americans that "strong precautions" were being taken to prevent future terrorist attacks. [Text of President's Address]

9:45 am - A Delta non-stop flight from New York to Amsterdam was cancelled late Friday night after two men described by Delta officials as Middle Eastern bought one-way tickets. The pair was detained by the FBI. [See: Delta flight canceled after suspicious bookings (CNN)]

8:30 am - The NBC employee in New York City reported to have been exposed to anthrax on Friday was confirmed as having contracted the less dangerous skin-infecting form of anthrax. The NBC employee and an employee of the New York Times both reported opening letters containing a suspicious powder. Both letters had St. Petersburg, Fla. postmarks. NBC news reported that the enveloped they received also contained a threatening letter. The FBI and CDC are investigating both incidents. [See: NBC Aide Tests Positive for Anthrax (Reuters)]

5:30 am - Officials of India stated they were pleased with the Unites States' decision to freeze the funds of militant groups in Pakistan. India had accused Pakistan of harboring known terrorist groups including a group called the Army of Mohammad, which promised to continue its battles against India despite the actions of the United States. Pakistan and India are the only two nations in the region known to have nuclear weapons. [See: India welcomes terrorist freeze (CNN)]

5:00 am - As anthrax threats spread from New York to Reno, Nevada, new allied airstrikes in Afghanistan pounded Taliban positions near Kandahar and Kabul. [See: Airstrikes resume in Afghanistan (CNN)]

Previous Days of the Crisis
A daily record of events since Sept. 11, 2001.