TODAY marks 20 years since suicide attackers seized US passenger jets and crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, killing thousands of people.

The attack on Tuesday September 11 2001 remains one of the most traumatic events of the century, not only for Americans but also for the world.

Like millions across the globe, people in Sussex saw the attacks on the World Trade Centre unfolding live on television.

When the first plane struck, an estimated 17,400 people were in the towers. Nobody survived above the point where the North Tower was hit, but 18 people managed to escape from the floors above the impact zone in the South Tower.

Thousands of people died, many more were injured and people from 77 different countries were among the casualties.

In Sussex, the family of Robert Eaton, who worked on the 105th floor of one of the towers, mourned the loss of their son and brother.

While Paul Neal contemplated how he had managed to escape from the building’s 100th floor.

Here, we take a look back at the Argus front pages that documented the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

1. September 12 – Massacre in Manhattan

The Argus: September 12, 2001 - Masscare in ManhattanSeptember 12, 2001 - Masscare in Manhattan

Church, council and community leaders across Sussex condemned yesterday's terrorist attacks on America and have offered sympathy to the victims of the tragedy.

They said they were shocked and saddened by the worst terrorist attack in American history, which have been a disaster for world peace.

Des Turner, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown at the time of the attacks, watched the scenes of carnage unfold on a television from the South of France, where he is on holiday with his family.

He said: "You don't need to understand the language to get a feeling for the scale of this tragedy.

"It's just mind-boggling. I'm absolutely stunned. We don't know at this stage what the human cost of this act of terrorism is going to be."

Speaking at the time, Imam Abdulaalil Salid, leader of the Muslims in Sussex, said: "This is unbelievably shocking. We condemn all acts of violence and terrorism.

"We want to express our sympathy and condolences, for to us the sanctity of life is paramount. This will be condemned worldwide."

2. September 14 – Slaughter of an Innocent

The Argus: September 14, 2001 - Slaughter of an Innocent September 14, 2001 - Slaughter of an Innocent

As the world prepared to count the human cost of the attacks, the families of those still missing began to fear the worst.

In Ditchling, Doug and Laura Eaton were faced with the devastating the reality that they would never see their son Robert, 37, again.

The Brighton College schoolboy and Albion fan was working on the 105th floor when the plane struck the building three storeys below.

His mother Laura heard news of the attacks on the radio at her home in Ditchling. She immediately tried to call her son, but the phone rang three times before the line went dead.

Speaking just two days after the attack, she said: "I can't believe I will never see him again. We keep seeing these horrific scenes on television and it doesn't seem real."

Robert, a merchant banker for Cantor Fitzgerald, last spoke to his parents on the phone when they were on holiday in Spain two weeks before 9/11.

3. How I survived a terror attack

The Argus: September, 13 2001 - How I survived a terror attackSeptember, 13 2001 - How I survived a terror attack

Paul Neal was at his desk high up one of the towers when the hijacked plane crashed into it.

He described how he fled from his desk as smoke from burning aviation fuel engulfed the floors above him.

None of the lifts in the 110-storey building were working so Paul and his terrified colleagues started the long climb down the stairs to the basement where they hoped they would be safe.

Paul’s mother Brenda, from Goring, and sister Julia had last seen him just two days before when he returned to Sussex to watch a Brighton and Hove Albion match and show off photos of his new apartment in New York.

They found out via his company’s office in Newark, just outside New York, that he had survived the plane crash and the subsequent collapse of the twin towers.

4. September 26 – US attacks were bound to happen

The Argus: September 26, 2001 - US Attacks were bound to happenSeptember 26, 2001 - US Attacks were bound to happen

In the weeks following the attacks, flight safety regulations and airport security was called into question.

Steve Wragg, from Worthing, was a security boss at Dulles International Airport, near Washington, where the hijackers boarded American Airlines flight 77 which slammed into the Pentagon.

The former pupil at Tarring School, was interview by the FBI and CIA following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

He said prior to the attacks passengers were allowed to board jets with knives provided the blades did not exceed four inches.

Steve said he had worked in many different counties before moving to the States and that security in the country was a “totally different deal”.

He said: “It's all money orientated. Security was last on the agenda for Americans. They didn't really have an understanding of it.

Steve was on holiday at the time of the attacks, having flown back to his Washington home the day before.

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