by Martin Jefferies

mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

It was a moment that changed the world, something so catastrophic few who witnessed it will ever forget what they were doing at the time.

When hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, most people in Kent watched the horrific events unfold on TV.

But for some, the attacks happened more closely to home, as loved ones were caught up in the aftermath.

Others were in New York and Washington when the terrorists struck.

Here are just a few of their stories:

Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Dr Williams was in Wall Street, Manhattan, and had been due to address a group of 22 church leaders in a building south of the World Trade Centre when the planes hit.

When the South Tower collapsed at 9.59am, less than an hour after it was struck, he made his way, covered in dust, to Staten Island ferry terminal, where buses and boats were evacuating people to safety.

"what we're going to remember is the chaos, dark and dust." – dr rowan williams, archbishop of canterbury

The Archbishop took shelter alongside construction workers in a trailer.

A year later, he spoke about his experience of 9/11 while giving the Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Four.

He said: "The image from outside is the single dramatic moment; the crash out of a clear sky.

"But what we're going to remember from the inside is the chaos, dark and dust, and the unexpected conversations and intimate touches of the hand from strangers as we waited."

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Clegg, who was visiting Kent on Friday, was in Sweden when he heard the news.

He said: "Like a lot of people it just took me quite a long while to get my head around it.

"I then had to take a flight from Stockholm and the airport was awash with rumours that there were going to be more attacks that day.

"I remember phoning my wife and saying should I get on a plane or not.

"But I think the thing I remember the most was how everyone was completely quiet, everybody was completely stunned, there was like this eerie hush."

Natalie Thompson, artist

Mrs Thompson was in New York when al-Qaeda attacked the Twin Towers.

She said: "Being out there made it all seem so much worse.

"The devastation was so bad but the people were so strong and all pulled together."

After returning to her home in Folkestone, Mrs Thompson expressed her emotion by creating an oil painting of the destruction at Ground Zero.

The painting shows an American flag, poignantly positioned between the twisted remains of the buildings that once dominated the New York skyline.

Richard Nyren, pilot

Richard Nyren came closer than most to two of the hijackers responsible for the atrocities in New York.

He went to the Huffman Aviation flying school in Venice, Florida, in September 1999 - the same training academy used by Mohammed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi, who piloted the two planes before crashing them into the Twin Towers.

Atta and Al-Shehhi began studying at Huffman Aviation in July 3, 2000, and spent six months being trained by the same instructor as Mr Nyren.

Mr Nyren said Atta and Al-Shehhi stood out from the rest of the students.

He said: "They barely spoke, even to each other, and whenever I spoke to them, all I got was just one-word answers. It struck me as strange that they didn't interact with anybody.

"What I'll always remember about Atta was the fixated stare on his face. I don't think I ever saw that man smile in the whole six months."

See also: Police officers to mark September 11 attacks 10 years on
Kent terror expert: Repeat of 9/11 attacks 'unlikely'

Where were you and what you were doing when the planes struck or the towers fell? Were any of your friends and family caught up in the attacks? Leave your comments below.