I was working at Wingcast when the 9/11 event occurred. There were a bunch of muslims on the staff. The jackasses cheered in the company lunch room when the towers began to collapse. There was very nearly some "ad hoc" dental work performed by the American citizens in the room. Those clowns suddenly departed from the company within days. Good riddance.
Families from what my relatives reported, in the bay area also disappeared over night. Their children in the classrom had had a similar reaction as you co-workers.