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‘Terror war on USA’: How The Standard covered 9/11 as London marks 25th anniversary
We look back at how the Evening Standard covered the events on a day that changed the world
Niva Yadav2 minutes ago
On September 11, 2001, newsrooms around the world scrambled to document an unfolding disaster of almost unimaginable proportions.
Two commercial planes, hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists, crashed into each of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. A third struck the Pentagon, while a fourth, likely heading for the US Capitol, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
The terror attack claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
In London, print presses worked overtime as news desks scrambled to cover the horrific events.
A quarter of a century later, as London and beyond marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, we look back at how The Evening Standard covered the events on a day that changed the world.
September 11, 2001: ‘Terror war on USA’
A special edition of The Evening Standard was rushed out shortly after the attacksThe Standard
A special edition of the newspaper was rushed out on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 – with a two-page wrap showing the World Trade Center and surrounding buildings in downtown Manhattan engulfed in smoke.
“Terror war on USA,” the headline reads. In a matter of moments, two New York towers had been “destroyed”, the Pentagon had been “hit” and there were two more known crashes.
At that point, the death count was not clear. But it quickly became clear that thousands of lives were already lost.
Hundreds of thousands of extra copies were printed and the paper sold out across the capital as Londoners absorbed the shocking news.
September 12, 2001: Desperate search for victims in rubble
Rescue teams began what would become a nine-month search and recovery operation.
Emerging images showed teams sifting through rubble to pull out survivors, while others trapped inside made desperate calls to escape.
Many thousands were already “feared dead”, including 300 firefighters and 800 people in the Pentagon.
The Evening Standard’s front page the day after 9/11The Standard‘We will find these people – and they will suffer the consequences’The Standard
Victims were being found amidst the rubble in a city that had been torn apart by terror. People trapped inside the rubble made desperate calls to the police, while hospitals overflowed with patients and firefighters coming in for treatment.
“We keep hearing word that they are finding pockets of people and that’s why we’re all standing around here. But I just walked over there an hour ago and it didn’t seem like we were getting real close to that, “ Dr Harold van Bosse said.
‘A country in a state of siege’
Suspicions were beginning to emerge that Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, was responsible for the attacks.
The USA was a “country in a state of siege”, with its borders with Canada and Mexico both sealed.
“All flights have been grounded and airports shut,” the newspaper reads.
Meanwhile, in London, The Evening Standard reported that the capital was on high alert for any possible incoming atrocities.
An extra 500 officers were deployed on streets and security was ramped up in airports and US embassy buildings.
‘Evil, despicable acts of terror’
Fleet Street veteran Richard Holliday wrote that President George W Bush told his security team that they “would find these people” and that “they will suffer the consequences.”
The President addressed the nation in a broadcast from the White House.
He said: “Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.”
“America was targeted because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world,” he went on to say.
‘I want you to know that I love you very much, in case I don’t see you again’The Standard
Details of what happened on board the planes were becoming clearer as family members of victims came forward to retell the stories of their terrified loved ones.
One television reporter from Washington, Barbara Olson, 46, locked herself in the toilet to make her final call to her husband, the newspaper reads.
Another chilling testimony retells how Mark Bingham made his final call to his mother, Alice Hogland, from United Airlines Flight 93.
He told her: “We’ve been taken over. There are three men that say they have a bomb.
“I want you to know that I love you very much, in case I don’t see you again.”
Images showed the devastation of the attacksThe Standard
Graphic details of the atrocity emerged while the world reflected on one of the most catastrophic days in modern history.
In a feature piece, reporter Bob Graham pieced together everything the world knew about the terror attack.
Further coverage on September 12The Standard
Images showed more scenes of devastation as firefighters worked to clear mountains of rubble and rescue victims of the atrocity.
The Standard revealed how brokers, bankers, and city workers desperately tried to escape from the towers before they collapsed.
“Bodies fell from the upper floors of the towers. Some were perhaps blown out by the explosion, others may have been hanging on and finally lost their grip,” the paper reads.
“But many of them jumped, no doubt after deciding that a swift end was preferable to burning to death.”
London was on high alert amid the terror threatThe Standard
London pays tribute
The UK capital was on high alert, with some 500 extra police deployed to bolster London’s defences against terrorist attacks.
The newspaper writes that the Metropolitan Police, London Underground, London Fire Brigade, and NHS were all on alert to ensure the capital was protected against terror.
In Whitehall, Patrick Hennessy reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair was amidst crisis talks with the Cabinet to review security measures and discuss military support for the country.
While fear crept through the capital, Londoners gathered to pay their respects outside the US embassy.
Tributes poured in from Londoners and leaders alike. Mayor of London at the time, Ken Livingstone, extended his sympathies to the New York Mayor.
“My thoughts are naturally first with our sister city of New York, but extend to all those in the United States who have suffered in these attacks,” he said.
Max Hastings shared his opinion on the attacks that shocked the worldThe Standard
The Evening Standard’s Editor Max Hastings weighed in on the events that changed the world.
He wrote: “The vulnerability of the greatest society on earth which considers itself to be at peace, was laid bare by a handful of fanatics who think themselves at war.”
September 13, 2001
Reporting from New York, James Langton covered the desperate search as families aimed to reunite with their loved ones.
Devastating pictures showed families clutching photographs of missing people as the search through the rubble continued.
At least 100 Britons were believed to be among the dead, the newspaper reported.
At least 100 Britons were feared dead as the desperate search went on, the Standard reported. In the end 67 people were found to have diedThe StandardThe hunt for the terrorists responsible became a big focus of news coverage The Standard
As many as 50 terrorists were thought to have been involved in the attacks.
The “biggest manhunt in American history” gathered pace as detectives began making arrests with anyone linked to bin Laden.
The Standard
The impact on New York City was utterly devastating. The once-thriving Big Apple was truly a city in mourning.
“City that once never slept grows dark with the night,” a headline reads.
Images showed glimmers of hope as New Yorkers lit candles to commemorate those who have lost their lives, while other pictures revealed the true extent of the devastation.
September 14, 2001: ‘World’s Day of Prayer’
The front page on September 14 The Standard
Countries around the globe united in mourning as the attacks continued to reverberate. “World’s Day of Prayer”, was the simple front-page headline in The Evening Standard, accompanied by a picture of someone holding an American flag, lit up by surrounding candlelight.
A picture of the American flag appears on the front page, lit up by surrounding candlelight.
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