On the eve of the tenth 9/11 anniversary, we ask South West Londoners what they were doing when they found out about the attacks.
On September 11th 2001, Al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon led to the deaths of over 3000 innocent people sending shockwaves across the world.
Our reporters went out onto the streets of South West London on the eve of 9/11’s tenth anniversary to ask Londoners what they were doing when they heard about the attacks.
Jo Caulfield via Twitter:
“Driving to the Alexander Theatre, Birmingham as a comedy support to Puppetry of The Penis (!) Heard it on the radio. Stunned!”
Mark Watson via Twitter:
“I was watching the film Moulin Rouge. Long story. Didn’t like it.”
Benti, Richmond
“I was in Bluewater Shopping Centre. I saw it on the TV in a shop and we all thought it was a joke or something. People were queuing to get in to see.”
Mark, Richmond
“I was in Australia. The reaction there was much the same as here.”
Louise, Kingston
“I was having a wax, my legs. It came on the radio.”
Richard, Fulham
“I was at school and someone ran into the room and said a plane had gone into one of the twin towers so we all ran downstairs where there was a TV and that was when the second plane went in. We all just stood there watching everything unfold. I remember the housemaster came in to take one of the boys out because his father actually worked in one of the towers.”
Chantal, Fulham
“I was in South Korea, Seoul, about to meet a group of American friends. When the news came on I thought that they might not want to meet but in the end they wanted to talk about it so we went ahead with our plans. One of my American friend was scared she’s lost someone she knew but her friend eventually called and said she was fine and everything was OK.”
Hugh, Wandsworth
“Morden tube station. A bus driver came up to me and said the twin towers had just been hit by a couple of jets.”
Joan, Merton
“I was on holiday in Spain. A cleaner came into our rooms and told us that the Twin Towers had been attacked. I was absolutely stunned. I just couldn’t believe it. you felt sorry all day.”
Eileen, Merton
“I was working in the city for a firm of lawyers and we had a direct line from the police of some sort of alert and we were all told to just get out and go. I was horrified and shocked. I went home – got on the train and came out of London as soon as I could.”
Jim, Merton
“I was visiting Harley Street and as I walked back home I passed a television shop and glance at one of the windows and saw this one tower burning. I thought it was a video game but then I went in the shop and asked if this was live and was told it was true. The terrible thing is that I can still see it and when I pass a TV shop I always look at the screens now. I wish I’d never seen it.”
Mike, Kensington & Chelsea
“My distinctive memory of hearing about it was thinking that my wife was in America at the time. She was actually in Canada but at the time I wasn’t sure if she was in New York.”
John, Kensington & Chelsea
“I was in prison where I did 22 and a half years. I switched the TV on in the morning and it was all over the news. I had relatives that were there on holiday so I was just panicking, trying to phone, holding my breath. They were OK though.”
Zak , Kensington & Chelsea
“I was at school. One of my first thoughts was about my brother who was in a New York station, but he was OK. I was worried about him, as were the rest of my family.”
