World goes on alert after massive attacks on US

7.00 am update

BERLIN - The United States put its forces on alert as governments worldwide held crisis meetings, tightening security at embassies, airports and public buildings and braced for more possible attacks.

Planes bound for the United States were recalled in mid-flight, Britain stopped civilian flights over London, and NASA closed the Kennedy Space Center after two hijacked US planes slammed into the World Trade Center and a third hit the Pentagon.

Frankfurt, Germany's financial capital, looked set to close all its major skyscrapers, which include Europe's tallest buildings, on Wednesday after regional government authorities recommended their closure.

Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank, which occupies one of the city's major office buildings, as well as to Germany's top banks.

The United States placed its military forces and facilities in the Gulf region and Europe on the highest level of alert, called "Delta."

"We are now on Delta (imminent threat), the whole world is on Delta," a US official said.

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani ordered evacuation of the lower part of Manhattan and said the destruction of the World Trade Center's twin towers had caused enormous loss of life.

The US embassy in Kuwait warned the 8,000 civilian residents there to "keep a low profile" but said: "We have no information to indicate a specific threat in Kuwait".

Special security forces deployed around compounds in Kuwait City where Westerners reside, checking all visitors and parked vehicles.

The United States has 15,000-25,000 military personnel in the Gulf. Its forces there have been target to bombing attacks in recent years. It has more than 100,000 troops in Europe.

The hijacked planes destroyed both of New York's twin towers and plunged the Pentagon into flames in an unprecedented assault on key symbols of US military and financial power.

In Europe, France called a general security alert and Germany convened its national security council, cancelling debate in parliament for the rest of the week.

The Frankfurt stock exchange was evacuated after a bomb threat.

Germany's Lufthansa airline recalled or diverted 22 flights across the Atlantic. All European flights to the United States were suspended.

French measures, under a plan codenamed Vigipirate, involved deployment of armed troop patrols at airports and metro stations and increased street and border controls.

The US European Command said it increased security at military bases but gave no details.

The American University in Cairo said the Egyptian government was providing extra security.

Foreign embassies in Washington closed or sent US personnel home.

German police with dogs and on horseback stepped up their presence around parliament, where a session debating the 2002 budget was cancelled.

The Federal Chancellery put up its automatic security gates. The government said it would step up protection of US and Israeli interests and airports.

Undercover police at the US embassy in Berlin crouched behind cars and pointed pistols at nearby rooftoops when Ambassador Daniel Coats entered the embassy.

The new Jewish museum in Berlin cancelled its public opening set for Tuesday night.

The US embassy in Rome sent staff home early, while Spain threw cordons around the US and Israeli embassies and the Palestinian representation.

Romanian special forces cordoned off the US embassy in Bucharest, which shut down for two days last week after unspecified threats to security, as well as the Israeli embassy.

In the Kenyan capital Nairobi, scene of a massive bomb attack on the US embassy in 1998, a spokesman for the ambassador said he was awaiting instructions from Washington.

"What I can say is that judging from the reaction of my staff, this is a horrifying reminder of what happened in Nairobi three years ago," he said.

Kenyan police spokesman Peter Kimanthi said security forces would tighten security in the wake of the attack.

Greece, criticised by Washington over its anti-terrorism record, ordered a security alert at the US embassy in Athens and other potential US targets, including schools.

A Reuters photographer saw busloads of special police forces taking positions around the central Athens embassy building.

- REUTERS

The New Zealand Herald will publish a special print edition with coverage of the terrorist attacks. It will be available in Auckland from noon today.

The fatal flights

Emergency telephone numbers for friends and family of victims

These numbers are valid for calls from within New Zealand, but may be overloaded at the moment.

United Airlines: 0168 1800 932 8555

American Airlines: 0168 1800 245 0999

NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade special hotline: 0800 872 111

Online database for friends and family