By Elisabetta Coletti, Associated Press, 09/26/01

TODAY'S TOP STORIES Military US checking hospital charge World Taliban claims hospital struck Pakistan arrests anti-US activists Russia's anthrax under lockup  TODAY'S GLOBE US ready to increase raids Trouble seen over victims' fund Troops' loyalties shift Anti-US rage boils in Pakistan More coverage in: Nation | World City & Region Complete archive of stories  REALVIDEO Security tight at Pilgrim plant Maine Guard troops head out Benefit concert in D.C. Archive of RealVideo  PHOTO GALLERIES Life aboard US Navy vessels Most wanted terrorists Scenes from Afghanistan Archive of photo galleries  THE RETALIATION The battlefield A grim land ravaged by war The enemy Afghans are tough, determined The aftermath Replacing the Taliban Maps Diagram of the attacks Overview of the region Graphics Weaponry used in strikes A look at US aircraft carriers Satellite-guided weapons Bomb covers 10 football fields New bomb used for first time  THE SUSPECTS The 19 suspected hijackers A look at Osama bin Laden Photos: Bin Laden's terror trail FBI's 'most-wanted' terrorists  THE ATTACK Sept. 11, 2001 A reconstruction of the day in graphics, photos, and text.  MESSAGE BOARDS Earlier boards Has America changed forever? Condolences Acts of patriotism

NEW YORK -- Photography at the World Trade Center site, where thousands of curious New Yorkers and tourists have gathered with still and video cameras since the terrorist attacks, was banned by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

"No photographic equipment or video equipment may be brought into the area or used, except with the approval of the Police Commissioner," said a statement issued by the mayor's office on Tuesday.

The statement said that the ban was issued because the site is a crime scene and that cameras and video equipment could be seized. No one from the mayor's office was available early Wednesday to explain why the order wasn't issued earlier.

Small signs were posted around the Trade Center site late Tuesday, warning passers-by that they risk prosecution for a Class B misdemeanor for taking pictures or violating any of the order's other provisions, including no pedestrian or vehicular traffic or occupancy of buildings within site boundaries.

Officer Michael DiFrancisco, standing guard at a barricade, said the photo ban also was "out of respect for the families and all those concerned."

More than 6,300 people are missing and feared dead in the wreckage. Since the day after the Sept. 11 attack, no survivors have been pulled out -- only bodies and body parts.

Bill Homan, standing two blocks from the twisted metal and concrete, said he was going to take pictures anyway.

"That's a phenomenal picture," said Homan, 27, a Staten Island history teacher. "In 20 years I could say, `Yes, I've seen that. I have pictures from that day."'

There were no reports of seized equipment as of early Wednesday, police spokeswoman Sgt. Marian Messina said.

--- Associated Press Writers Lukas I. Alpert and Vince Willis contributed to this report.