London Times article (Score 3, Informative)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2001314412, 00.html TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2001 AP An aircraft about to fly into the World Trade Center in New York America hit by terrorists In a horrific sequence of destruction, terrorists crashed two aircraft into the World Trade Center and knocked down the twin 110-story towers this morning. Explosions have also reportedly rocked the US Defense Department and the State Department, spreading fear across the nation. Another hijacked aircraft is on its way to Washington, DC. A fifth aircraft has also reportedly crashed just south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. US fighter pilots are patrolling the skies over Washington. President George W. Bush has ordered a full-scale investigation to "hunt down the folks who committed this act". One of the planes that crashed into the Trade Center was American Airlines Flight 11, hijacked after take-off from Boston en route to Los Angeles, American Airlines said. It is believed that another hijacked airplane is still on its way to Washington, DC. The planes blasted fiery, gaping holes in the upper floors of the twin towers. The southern tower collapsed with a roar about an hour later. "This is perhaps the most audacious terrorist attack that's ever taken place in the world," said Chris Yates, an aviation expert at Jane's Transport in London. "It takes a logistics operation from the terror group involved that is second to none. Only a very small handful of terror groups is on that list. ... I would name at the top of the list Osama bin Laden." All airplanes were grounded across the country by the Federal Aviation Administration. All bridges and tunnels into Manhattan were closed down. The twin disaster at the World Trade Center happened shortly before 9 a.m. (1300 GMT) and then right around 9 a.m. Heavy black smoke billowed into the sky above the gaping holes in the side of the twin towers, one of New York City's most famous landmarks, and debris rained down upon the street, one of the city's busiest work areas. When the second plane hit, a fireball of flame and smoke erupted, leaving a huge hole in the glass and steel tower. John Axisa, who was getting off a commuter train to the World Trade Center, said he saw "bodies falling out" of the building. He said he ran outside, and watched people jump out of the first building, and then there was a second explosion, and he felt heat on the back of neck. Within the hour of the New York attacks, an aircraft crashed on a helicopter landing pad near the Pentagon and a car bomb exploded outside the State Department. The White House and all government buildings have been evacuated amid threats of terrorism. "Today we've had a national tragedy," Mr Bush said in Florida. "Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country." He said he would be returning immediately to Washington. Terrorist bombers struck the World Trade Center in February 1993, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) was initially reported as claiming responsibility for the attacks. But a DFLP spokesman has denied these reports. All flights in America have been grounded and flights are being diverted to Canada. The London Stock Exchange and Canary Wharf have been evacuated. Tony Blair, speaking at the TUC conference in Brighton, said: "I know that you would join with me in sending the deepest condolences to President Bush and the American people on behalf of the British people after these terrible events. "This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today it is perpetrated by fanatics. We, the democratic societies of the world are going to have to come together to fight it together."