Straw offers US help to catch terrorists

Britain today offered the US government every help in bringing to justice the terrorists who blitzed New York and Washington.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: ‘‘The world will be watching these pictures from the US with absolute horror.

‘‘There can be no justification for these appalling acts of terrorism.

‘‘Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of these atrocities.

‘‘We in Britain have offered whatever help we can to the American government to bring the perpetrators to justice and I have passed my condolences to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell.’’

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was speaking at the TUC Congress in Brighton where he had been due to address delegates about his plans for public services but said in the circumstances it would be inappropriate and instead he was returning to London immediately.