WTC complex housed CIA spy operation

Washington - A secret CIA office in the World Trade Centre complex which spied on UN diplomats and handled anti-terrorism cases…

Washington - A secret CIA office in the World Trade Centre complex which spied on UN diplomats and handled anti-terrorism cases was destroyed in the September 11th attack, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing government officials.

The Central Intelligence Agency office operated behind a false front in one of the smaller office towers destroyed when the twin towers collapsed after being hit by hijacked passenger planes, officials told the Times. All agency employees were evacuated safely, the officials said.

A CIA spokesman contacted by AFP declined to comment. "We never confirm the location of CIA offices other than our Virginia headquarters," the spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The office also recruited United Nations diplomats, and debriefed friendly US business executives and others after returning from overseas, according to the Times.

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Agents at the office also worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on counter-terrorism efforts in the New York area, the Times reported.