Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Thomas von Essen, the former New York City Fire Commissioner, has issued a stark warning about contemporary migration policies, drawing from his firsthand experience of the deadliest terror attack in modern history. Von Essen, who was at the helm of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) during 9/11 and lost 343 firefighters, expressed concern that current approaches to immigration in some Western countries, particularly Britain, are "idiotic" and could create conditions ripe for future extremism.
Von Essen recounted the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, describing how he initially misidentified the first plane impact as a minor incident involving a small aircraft. "I figured it was some rich guy who got drunk or whatever and crashed into the building," he stated. His perception changed rapidly as he arrived at the scene and witnessed the devastation. The realization that it was a commercial jet, followed by the second plane hitting the South Tower, brought a terrifying understanding: "Oh my God, we're being attacked, we're at war."
The 9/11 Experience
During the attacks, von Essen and his teams worked to evacuate people from the burning World Trade Center towers. Despite the FDNY's efforts, an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 people were saved. He described the initial emergency plans, which advised people in the South Tower to remain in place after the North Tower was hit, a decision he carries with him. "If everybody had been evacuated immediately from the South Tower, we wouldn't have lost anybody," he reflected, acknowledging the impossibility of predicting the second attack. The aftermath involved days of sifting through rubble, searching for survivors, a task that yielded no survivors after the first day. Von Essen described the personal toll of attending numerous funerals and the pain of not being able to return remains to some families.
Contemporary Concerns
Now 80 years old, von Essen views the current global migration landscape with apprehension. He criticizes politicians for what he sees as a failure to learn from the past, stating, "I think we're really stupid, to a degree which is hard for me to believe. I think our politicians are nauseating. I think they should all be arrested."
He specifically questioned the practice of admitting large numbers of people without thorough vetting. "How you could let thousands and thousands of people into your country and not know who they are or what their mission is... I don't care what your politics are, I think that's idiotic," he said, referencing the 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks. He expressed particular dismay at the situation in Great Britain, suggesting the country might be making similar mistakes to the U.S. in allowing individuals who "hate you" into the country.
Von Essen believes the threat of terrorism may now be greater than before 9/11, despite advancements in technology and monitoring by agencies like the FBI and CIA. He pointed to the sophisticated technology, including AI, now available to extremist groups and their improved recruitment strategies as factors contributing to this increased danger. "They're morons, most of them, but they have intelligent leaders, and the intelligent people are playing the morons. So it makes it more dangerous than it was years ago," he explained.
Scrutiny of Public Figures
The former commissioner also addressed recent controversies surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Von Essen criticized Adams's handling of 9/11 remembrance events, including a widely criticized incident where the mayor handed a pen used to sign a 9/11 remembrance order to a former Al-Qaeda defense lawyer. "I don't know where he's coming from. For a smart man, seems pretty dopey to me," von Essen commented on the mayor's actions.
Following his tenure as fire commissioner, von Essen has remained involved in disaster relief, working with FEMA and assisting with recovery efforts for hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also champions educational initiatives about the 9/11 attacks, collaborating with the UK-based charity Since 9/11 to advocate for mandatory education on the subject in British schools. "It's pretty relevant for kids to understand that there are bad people out there. They didn't go away. I think it's critical to the future for education on this topic to continue," he stated.