'It Was Just an Unreal, Horrific Event. like the Truman Show, Something That Was Just Inconceivable' Ten Years Ago Tomorrow, the World Watched in Horror as Terrorists Wrought Their Deadly Carnage on the US. on the Eve of the Landmark Anniversary Graham Henry Speaks to the Stephen Evans, the Welshman Who Became the Face of the BBC's Stateside Coverage of the 9/11 Attacks

Byline: Graham Henry

* DECADE ago, the unthinkable happened. In the most economically developed country in the world, in one of the most open democratic societies in the globe, a nation and way of life was violated on an unprecedented scale.

As planes were deliberately flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, horrified residents of New York City looked on as nightmarish images of people jumping from the stricken buildings, and images of the towers eventually collapsing to the ground, were beamed around the world.

Nearly 3,000 people died in atrocities that included four airliners full of people, and two towers packed with city centre workers, families and rescue workers.

Repercussions were profound not only for the US, but for the rest of the world.

The event triggered a 10-year conflict in Afghanistan, and formed the controversial basis for the Iraq war, as well as an exhaustive search for the man that perpetrated the atrocity - Osama Bin Laden - culminating in his death in May this year.

His death was greeted by images of delirious Americans taking to the streets, decked in the Stars and Stripes, celebrating retribution for the man who started it all.

Back on September 11, 2001, meanwhile, on the ground floor of the south tower, was Cardiff-born BBC journalist Stephen Evans. He was working as the corporation's business and economics correspondent in the US at the time, having been posted there in May that year.

Now working as the BBC's Berlin correspondent, Mr Evans - who lived in Bridgend - appears to have mixed feelings of regret, and a matter-of-fact attitude to his own lucky escape.

The Welshman was by no means …

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Publication information: Article title: 'It Was Just an Unreal, Horrific Event. like the Truman Show, Something That Was Just Inconceivable' Ten Years Ago Tomorrow, the World Watched in Horror as Terrorists Wrought Their Deadly Carnage on the US. on the Eve of the Landmark Anniversary Graham Henry Speaks to the Stephen Evans, the Welshman Who Became the Face of the BBC's Stateside Coverage of the 9/11 Attacks. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: September 10, 2011. Page number: 10. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2011 Gale Group.

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