Terrorist Attacks in the United States: Statement by
the Prime Minister
Published
Tuesday 11th September 2001
Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Following the appalling events in the United States on Tuesday 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon with hijacked passenger planes,
the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP,
issued the following statement:
"The full horror of what has happened in the United
States earlier today is now becoming clearer. It is hard
even to contemplate the utter carnage and terror which
has engulfed so many innocent people. We’ve offered
President Bush and the American people our solidarity,
our profound sympathy, and our prayers. But it is plain
that citizens of many countries round the world,
including Britain, will have been caught up in this
terror.
I have just chaired an emergency meeting of the British
government Civil Contingencies Committee, and I would
like to explain some of the measures that we have agreed
to take here. There are a range of precautionary
measures. We have stepped up security at airports to the
highest levels. No flights will take off from the United
Kingdom for which we cannot apply the highest standards
of security for air crew and passengers. Private flights
have been stopped except where specifically authorised.
Flight paths into London have been changed, so there
will be no civil over-flights of central London.
Security has been increased across the full range of
government buildings and military premises. The police
across the whole of the UK are on full alert. All our
defence facilities round the world have been moved to
high alert to ensure the protection of British service
personnel. Advice is being given to major financial and
business institutions about appropriate security
measures. A number of other security measures have been
taken, and of course we are in close touch with US,
European and other allies, and are co-operating with
them on issues of security. All relevant ministers
remain in communication, and the committee - the civil
contingencies committee - will meet again tomorrow at
8am.
Obviously some of these measures, not least the effect
upon airports, will lead to some disruption, and I hope
people understand that. But other than the specific
measures we have taken, or that we have advised others
to take, business and everyday life can continue as
normal. As for those that carried out these attacks,
there are no adequate words of condemnation. Their
barbarism will stand as their shame for all eternity.
As I said earlier, this mass terrorism is the new evil
in our world. The people who perpetrate it have no
regard whatever for the sanctity or value of human life,
and we the democracies of the world, must come together
to defeat it and eradicate it. This is not a battle
between the United States of America and terrorism, but
between the free and democratic world and terrorism. We,
therefore, here in Britain stand shoulder to shoulder
with our American friends in this hour of tragedy, and
we, like them, will not rest until this evil is driven
from our world."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have issued an
emergency number for those worried about friends or
relatives in the United States: 0207 008 0000
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have
issued an emergency number for those worried
about friends or relatives in the United
States: 020
7008 0000. Related links:
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