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The United States of America lived through one of its darkest days on Tuesday when its proudest cities and their landmarks fell victim to a series of concerted terror attacks that probably killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians.
The following is a wrap-up of what happened on this tragic September 11, 2001:
Two airliners are hijacked by unknown persons and flown straight into the Word Trade Center’s Twin Towers minutes apart. The first airliner trikes at 8:45 a.m, the second at 9:03 a.m (EST). New York City plunges into a state of panic.
President Bush, speaking in Sarasota, Florida, says the country has suffered an "apparent terrorist attack."
Another aircraft plunges into the Pentagon near Washington DC at 9:43 a.m (EST). Part of the structure collapses.
The White House evacuates.
President George W. Bush cuts his visit to Florida short.
The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses 10:05 a.m (EST), plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building.
United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh.
The United Nations building evacuates, including 4,700 people from the headquarters building and 7,000 total from UNICEF and U.N. development programs.
The World Trade Center's north tower collapses from the top down as if it were being peeled apart at 10:28 a.m, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke.
American Airlines reports it has lost 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 International Airport to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard. Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
United Airlines reports that United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California, has crashed in Pennsylvania. The airline also says that it is "deeply concerned" about United Flight 175.
United Airlines confirms that Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, has crashed with 56 passengers and nine crew members aboard. It hit the World Trade Center's south tower.
Bush, speaking from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, says that all appropriate security measures are being taken, including putting the U.S. military on high alert worldwide. He asks for prayers for those killed or wounded in the attacks and says, "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malta says that it has no reports of any Maltese casualties in the attacks.
The President of Malta, all political parties and several Maltese NGOs condemn the attack
At a news conference, Giuliani says that subway and bus service are partially restored in New York City. Asked about the number of people killed, Giuliani says, "I don't think we want to speculate about that -- more than any of us can bear."
First reports that Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, suspected of coordinating the bombings of two U.S. embassies in 1998, is involved in the attacks, based on "new and specific" information developed since the attacks.
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.
Rescue efforts at the site of the World Trade Center towers start. Tens are pulled from the debris still alive.
President Bush addresses the nation, saying "thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" and asks for prayers for the families and friends of Tuesday's victims. "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," he says. The president says the U.S. government will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts and those who harbor them. He adds that government offices in Washington are reopening for essential personnel Tuesday night and for all workers Wednesday.
Latest updates
Updates from the scenes of the attacks and the ongoing investigations
Reactions in Malta
A look at the effect the attacks have left on Malta and the Maltese around the world
Terrorism against the USA
A list of the major terrorist attacks against the United States in recent years.
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