Terrorist attacks: chronology of terror

This is the how the terrorism disaster has unfolded so far today.. All times are local US times, five hours behind Irish time.

8:45 a.m.: A large plane, possibly a hijacked airliner, crashes into one of

the World Trade Center towers, tearing a gaping hole in the building and

setting it afire.

9:03 a.m.: A second plane, apparently a passenger jet, crashes into the

second World Trade Center tower and explodes. Both buildings are burning.

9:17 a.m.: The FAA shuts down all New York City area airports.

9:21 a.m.: New York City Port Authority orders all bridges and tunnels in

the New York City area closed

9:30 a.m.: Bush, speaking in Florida, says the country has suffered an

"apparent terrorist attack."

9:40 a.m.: The FAA halts all flight operations at U.S. airports, the first

time in U.S. history that air traffic nationwide has been halted.

9:43 a.m.: An aircraft crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of

smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

9:43 a.m.: An aircraft crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of

smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

9:45 a.m.: The White House evacuates.

9:57 a.m.: Bush departs from Florida.

10:05 a.m.: The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, plummeting

into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly

drifts away from the building.

10:08 a.m.: Secret Service agents armed with automatic rifles are deployed

into Lafayette Park across from the White House.

10:10 a.m.: A portion of the Pentagon collapses.

10:13 a.m.: The United Nations building evacuates, including 4,700 people

from the headquarters building and 7,000 total from UNICEF and U.N.

development programs.

10:22 a.m.: In Washington, the State and Justice departments are evacuated,

along with the World Bank.

10:24 a.m.: The FAA reports that all inbound transatlantic aircraft flying

into the United States are being diverted to Canada.

10:28 a.m.: The World Trade Center's north tower collapses from the top down

as if it were being peeled apart, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and

smoke

10:45 a.m.: All federal office buildings in Washington are evacuated.

10.46 a.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell cuts short his trip to

Latin America to return to the United States.

10.48 a.m.: Police confirm the crash of a large plane in Somerset County,

Pennsylvania.

10:53 a.m.: New York's primary elections scheduled for today are postponed.

10:54 a.m.: Israel evacuates all diplomatic missions.

10:57 a.m.: New York Gov. George Pataki says all state government offices

are closed.

11:02 a.m.: New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani urges citizens to stay at home and

orders an evacuation of the area south of Canal Street.

11:16 a.m.: CNN reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

is preparing bioterrorism teams to respond to the incidents in a

precautionary move. The preparation is not based on any known bioterrorism

threat.

11:18 a.m.: 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 Dulles Airport

near Washington to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members

aboard. Flight 11 is believed to be one of the planes that crashed into the

World Trade Center.

11:26 a.m.: United Airlines reports 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 a.m.: United Airlines confirms that 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 p.m.: Los Angeles International Airport, the destination of two of the

hijacked American Airlines flights, is evacuated.

12:15 p.m: San Francisco International Airport is evacuated and shut down.

The airport was the destination of American Airlines Flight 77, which was

one of the aircraft to strike the World Trade Center.

12:15 p.m.: The Immigration and Naturalization Service says U.S. borders

with Canada and Mexico are on the highest state of alert, but no decision

has been made about closing borders.

12:30 p.m.: The FAA says 50 flights are in U.S. airspace, but none are

reporting any problems.

1:04 p.m.: President Bush, speaking from an undisclosed location, 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."

7:00p.m.: 200 rescue workers missing, presumed dead.

7:22p.m.: 78 members of the NYPD reported missing.

8:00p.m.: US senate says it will back President Bush in whatever decision he takes.