BOTH of the World Trade Towers have collapsed following the attack by two aeroplanes on it.

Earlier a second attack was launched by terrorists aimed at the Pentagon, part has collapsed, and the White House has been evacuated.

Minutes earlier a Palestinian group claimed responsibility for a twin plane attack on the towers of the World Trade Centre, in New York.

An explosion at the Pentagon in Washington has cast plumes of smoke over the US capital and public buildings have been evacuated.

At lunchtime two planes crashed into each of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, In New York.

A twin engined jet liner crashes into the World Trade Centre in New York and another soon followed, smashing into the second tower.

A Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but this is yet to be confirmed.

As the second explosion ripped through one of the towers, eyewitnesses described scenes of sheer panic on the streets below.

"People were running in all directions jumping over barriers desperately trying to get away from the area. I guess they were just desperate to escape.

"At first we thought it had been an accident but now everyone is just terrified no-one knows what is going to happen next," said Mr Winter.

A twin engined jet liner crashes into the World Trade Centre in New York and another soon followed, smashing into the second tower.

An eyewitness said the plane appeared to hit one of the skyscraper's twin towers about 20 floors from the top.

The witness said he thought the plane was still embedded in the smashed and burning building.

Another, Jeanne Yurman, told CNN she was watching TV when she heard what she thought was a sonic boom. "I thought it was Concorde," she said.

Smoke was pouring out of two sides of the top floors of the building.

The FBI told CNN that they have not yet established if it was a terrorist act.

An eyewitness said the first plane appeared to hit one of the skyscraper's twin towers about 20 floors from the top.

He said he thought the plane was still embedded in the smashed and burning building.

Another he said it appeared that the first plane lined up on the tower before crashing.

Jeanne Yurman, told CNN she was watching TV when she heard what she thought was a sonic boom. "I thought it was Concorde," she said.

CNN said later it had learned that one of the planes was an American Airlines Boeing 767 that had taken off from Boston.