In the first attack, a plane hit the north tower of the World
Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by
another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both
towers later collapsed.
About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon, part of
which later collapsed.
American Airlines told CNN that it lost two planes in "tragic
accidents:" Flight 11 from Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew
aboard and Flight 77 from Washington Dulles airport with 58
passengers and six crew aboard. Both planes were en route to Los
Angeles
United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New
Jersey, to San Francisco, crashed near Somerset, Pennsylvania --
police said initial reports indicated no survivors. United also
confirmed the crash of Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles.
The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice
Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings
in Washington evacuated.
President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to
Washington, calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a
national tragedy."
In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights
nationwide have been stopped at their departure airports.
All international flights were diverted to Canada.
Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan,
said in reaction to the news of the terror attacks that "we want to
tell the American children that Afghanistan feels your pain and we
hope that the courts find justice."
In New York, more than 10,000 rescue personnel rushed to the
scene. The entire downtown area of Manhattan was evacuated as far
north as Rockefeller Center, according to an official at an
emergency command post.
Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was
evacuated. CDC was preparing bioterrorism teams in case they become
necessary.
Philadelphia landmarks were also evacuated.
In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New
York evacuated.
The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and
tunnels into the city.
U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks.
NATO sent home all non-essential personnel from its Brussels,
Belgium, headquarters.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has put the U.S.
borders with Mexico and Canada on highest state of alert.
Los Angeles International Airport has been evacuated.
Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has been closed
