Wall Street Under Attack: 103 Years of the Attack that Marked Financial History
103 years ago, an act of terrorism shook the financial heart of the United States: a bomb in a horse-drawn cart exploded in front of the JPMorgan Chase bank building in New York, killing 38 people and injuring 400 others.
The explosion occurred at 12:01 on September 16, 1920, at a time when Wall Street was full of people working as messengers, stenographers, clerks and brokers. The bomb contained 45 kg of dynamite and 230 kg of cast iron, which spread through the air causing damage and deaths.
The attack was never solved, but it is believed to have been carried out by Italian anarchists, who were protesting the arrests and deportations of their comrades in the United States. The Wall Street attack was the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil to date, and caused more than 2 million dollars in material damage.
September 16th was marked by violence and fear, but also by solidarity and courage. Many people helped to help the injured and restore order to the city. The president of the New York Stock Exchange suspended trading to avoid panic, but the following day the market reopened normally.
The day of the Wall Street attack is a day to remember and honor the victims of this tragedy, and to reflect on the dangers of extremism and intolerance.