New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that One World Trade Center would display the colors of the Belgian flag in lights on its spire in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, but the skyscraper’s lights were the wrong colors.
The spire was illuminated in blue, white and red instead of Belgium’s black, yellow and red.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Cuomo said “One World Trade Center will be displayed in black, yellow and red as we stand in solemn solidarity with the people of Belgium, just as they have done for us in the past.”
A Port Authority spokesperson told the local NBC News affiliate that the spire was initially lit at 10 percent white, which was supposed to darken the spire enough to appear black.
After dusk, the lighting was further darkened so the Belgian colors of black, yellow and red were clearly visible, the spokesperson said.
Other cities across the globe illuminated their landmarks and monuments in black, red and yellow in solidarity with Belgium after explosions at the airport and subway station in Brussels left 34 dead and hundreds injured.
Paris’ Eiffel Tower was correctly illuminated in the Belgian colors, as well as the Trevi Fountain in Rome and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
New York’s Empire State Building went dark Tuesday to mourn the victims of the attack.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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