New York: Months before the attack on the World Trade Centre (WTC) in the United States, the terrorists who masterminded the bombing had "painstakingly" videotaped the twin towers.

The tapes, confiscated from the accomplices of the terrorists who masterminded the attack and aired by ABC television network, show the towers were photographed from all angles and at all times of day and night both from outside and inside.

They had apparently marked the weaknesses of the structure as also the route that the hijacked jetliner that crashed into them took would take, media reports said.

One shot actually shows a plane flying past the towers.

The videotapes also contain commentary describing the place where the shot is being taken and what it is showing.

The terrorists had also videotaped the Empire State building and some other landmarks.

PTI