2. These photos were sent in my e-mail years ago and was taken at Ground Zero, the World Trade Center site in New York, on September 13, 2001 . They were taken by someone named " Ed " who was allowed into the area by a member of the emergency response crew, at a time when all civilians -- including most journalists -- were forbidden to enter the area . As a result, these photos are just about the only close - ups ever taken of the World Trade Center site so soon after the 9 / 11 attacks .