British PM reacts to NY and WDC attacks

(11 Sep 2001)
1. Wide shot interior TUC Congress
2. Two shot Tony Blair and Bill Morris (leader of Transport and General Workers' Union) as Morris introduces Blair (UPSOUND: (English) "In the light of that information I now invite the Prime Minister to make a statement to the Congress."
3. Blair goes up to speak
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blair, British Prime Minister
"As Bill has just informed you there have been the most terrible shocking events taking place in the United States of America within the last hour or so including two hijacked planes being flown deliberately into the World Trade Centre. I'm afraid we can only imagine the terror and the carnage there and the many many innocent people that will have lost their lives. I know you will want to join with me in sending the deepest condolences to President Bush and to the American people on behalf of the British people at these terrible events. This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we the democracies of this world are going to have to come together to fight it together and eradicate this evil from our world. Delegates, I hope you will understand that I don't believe it would be appropriate to carry on the speech I was going to give you today. I know I have issued copies of the speech, we will make sure that all delegates get copies of the speech, but I think it inappropriate to give that speech here now. I will obviously want to carry on discussions that we've had about the issues that concern us. I will now return to London and once again I thank you for your indulgence here. I'm very very sorry it has turned out the way it has but I know that, as I say, you would want to join with me in offering our deepest sympathy to the American people and our absolute shock and outrage at what has happened."
5. Blair returns to his seat to applause
STORYLINE:
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has reacted with shock and outrage to the news on Tuesday of attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
Blair was speaking at the TUC Congress in Brighton where he had been due to address delegates about his plans for public services.
But he said in the circumstances it would be inappropriate and instead he was returning to London immediately.
Blair sent deepest condolences to President Bush and to the American people on behalf of the British people.
And he condemned the new evil of mass terrorism, calling upon world democracies to unite and eradicate it from the world.
Two planes crashed into the upper floors of both World Trade Centre towers minutes apart on Tuesday morning in what the President George W. Bush said was an apparent terrorist attack, blasting fiery, gaping holes in the 110-storey buildings.
Within the hour, an aircraft crashed on a helicopter landing pad near the Pentagon, and the West Wing of the White House was evacuated amid threats of terrorism.

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