On the 11th September, 2001, the USA was witness to the most horrendous attack on American soil since Pearl Harbour. The audacious attack received condemnation around the world, as the most visible symbol of free trade, the 110 storey Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (WTC), in Lower Manhattan, New York, disappeared from the Manhattan skyline forever.

This entry serves to chronicle the events of that fateful day.

Times are given as New York time.

08.30-08.45

Air Traffic control at Boston suspect that something is amiss when American Airlines Flight 11 and Flight 175, both bound for Los Angeles, deviate from their course and head toward New York. Staff try to contact the pilots, who confirm that both planes are being hijacked. The FBI is informed.

08.45

Staff who work at the World Trade Center complex, and in the immediate area, are just arriving for work. It is a clear blue morning, the Manhattan skyline set against a cloudless sky. The scene is set to change dramatically; American Airlines Flight 11, on a steep descent, crashes into the north Tower of the Twin Towers, at the level of the 90th floor. The plane, and the north face of the tower, explodes in a ball of flame and fuel. Passengers on the plane phone relatives informing them that hijackers armed with knives and a box cutter have taken control of the plane, minutes before impact.

News networks were quick to respond, as were the emergency services. Staff who were in the World Trade Center are told to evacuate the North Tower. Stairwells are clogged, and lifts are overfull with people desperate to escape. Live footage is beamed to the world of the unimaginable; what must be a tragic accident. However, it was what was to happen next, a twist of the most cruel, which confirmed America's worst fear.

09.03

When news crews are filming the burning north tower live, a second plane, United Airlines Flight 175 approaching from the south, crashes into the south tower at the level of the 65th, exploding, like the first, in a ball of flame. Any theory that this may have been an horrific accident are crushed. Both towers are now burning.

Observers are stunned, as well as news crews. There are still people in the twin towers in the floors above the sites of impact, waving curtains to indicate to the rescue personnel that they are still alive.

09.17

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) shuts down all New York airports.

09.21

New York Port Authority shuts all bridges and tunnels out of Manhattan.

09.30

President Bush, on a visit to a primary school in Florida, is informed by his Secretary of State of the incident. His expression visibly changes. He makes an announcement that the country has suffered a terrorist attack.

09.38

Evacuation of the Pentagon and The Senate, begins.

09.40

For the first time in US history, the FAA orders all flight operations at US airports to be halted.

09.43

American Airlines Flight 77, departing from Washington's Dallas Airport for Los Angeles, crashes into the Pentagon, causing part of its outer wall to collpase. Staff are still being evacuated.

09.45

The White House is evacuated.

09.47

President Bush leaves Florida for the Nebraska army base, where, in a time of war, the President would take command.

Meanwhile, back in New York, people still trapped in the WTC are now hurling themselves from the building in a desperate attempt to save themselves.

10.05

Any chance, however, that those still trapped could still be rescued, is cruelly dashed. The south tower, its supporting columns melted by the heat of the blast, collapses like a card house. Emergency teams working at the base of the tower are now trapped under the debris.

10.08

Crack shots from the secret service are deployed around Lafyette Park, opposite the White House.

10.10

Part of the Pentagon collapses. At the same time, United Airlines Flight 93 crashes south-east of Pittsburgh in Somerset County, possibly enroute for Camp David, Capitol Hill or the White House.

10.13

The United Nations building is evacuated.

10.22

Then in Washington, the State and Justice departments are evacuated, along with the World Bank.

10.24

The FAA order that all transatlantic flights to the US are diverted to Canada.

10.28

The remaining north tower of the TWC, dissolves into a cloud of smoke. In a scene not too dissimilar to that of Independance Day, panicked news crew, staff of the WTC complex and bystanders, run for their lives, some down the subway, others into buildings. The whole area is shrouded in dust.

In midtown Manhattan, in Times Square, astonished onlookers watch transfixed at the big screen, as they are witness to the fourth largest building in the world, disappearing before their very eyes.

10.45

The rest of the federal buildings in Washington are evacuated.

10.46

US Defence Secretary, Colin Powell, cuts short his visit to Latin America to return back to the US.

10.53

New York primary elections are postponed. The plea for more blood donations is made, and generously responded to by New Yorkers, desparate to help the wounded.

10.54

Israel evacuates all diplomatic missions.

11.02

New York Mayor, Roberto Giuliani, orders that the south side of Lower Manhattan is shut.

11.18

American Airlines confims the loss of two aircraft. American Flight 11, a Boeing 767 flying from Boston to Los Angeles, had 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard.

Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Washington's Dulles Airport to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard.

11.26

United Airlines confims that United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, has crashed in Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The airline also says that it is 'deeply concerned' about United Flight 175.

11.59

The confirmation that United Airlines Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, has crashed with 56 passengers and nine crew members aboard. Emergency personnel at the scene say there are no survivors.

12.04

Los Angeles Airport is evacuated.

12.15

San Fransisco Airport is evacuated and shut down. Land borders with Canada and Mexico are on the highest state of alert.

13.04

President Bush, announces that, 'Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.'

13.27

A state of emergency is declared in Washington city.

13.44

The Pentagon announces that warships and aircraft carriers will be sent to protect the West and East Coasts of the US.

14.30

The FAA makes an announcement to inform that there will be no commercial air traffic leaving or arriving in the US until Wednesday.

14.49

Mayor Giuliani says that subway and bus service are restored in New York City. When asked about the possible death toll, he says, 'I don't think we want to speculate about that, more than any of us can bear.'

15.55

Giuliani now says the number of critically injured in New York City is up to 200 with 2,100 total injuries reported.

16.06

California Governor Gray Davis dispatches search and rescue teams to New York City.

16.10

The 47 storey 7 World Trade Center (Soloman Brothers building) is on fire. The whole area looks as if it has been decimated by a large earthquake.

16.25

Wall Street, the Nasdaq, and the American Stock Exchange announce that they will remain closed until Wednesday. This is probably the most important economic move, as the US economy was volatile to begin with, and there is no indication of the devastating effect that this attack will have on an already fragile world economy.

17.20

7 World Trade Center collapses. Other buildings are feared to collapse as they burn into the late afternoon.

18.10

Mayor Giuliani urges all New Yorkers to stay home until Wednesday. Within the rubble, survivors use their moblie phones to indicate that they are still alive.

18.40

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld holds a news conference in the Pentagon, noting the building is operational, saying that 'It will be in business tomorrow.'

18.54

President Bush arrives back at the White House aboard Marine One and is scheduled to address the nation at 2030.

19.02

The Marriot Hotel in the vicinity of the WTC is reported to be on the verge of collapse.

19.45

The New York Police Department says that at least 78 officers are missing. The city also says that as many as half of the first 400 firefighters on the scene were killed, most of them who were at the base of the south tower when it collapsed.

20.30

President Bush addresses the nation, with the following words:

Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts.

The victims were in airplanes or in their offices, secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbours.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbours who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, DC, to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow.

Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.'

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night and God bless America.

The rescue effort continues well into the night, and the next day, when the US awoke to a new dawn. The Manhattan skyline is changed forever, as is the optimism of the 21st Century. Our carefree lifestyle has been demolished in a cloud of smoke, and lies in ruins with the dust and rubble that settle on the streets of Lower Manhattan. Any concept of a new world order has been cruelly dashed, with this most simple of acts, being executed with its most devastating results. No one could have dreamed, even in the worst of nightmares, that this could happen to the last of the world's superpowers.

No one dares to imagine what may rise out of the flames.

Witty Ditty

13.09.01. Front Page

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