Bermuda's international business community staggered under news that the twin office towers of New York's World Trade Centre had collapsed.

At least two international companies in Bermuda were tied to offices in the towers struck down by two hijacked, aeroplanes yesterday morning - Aon Group and Marsh & Mclennan.

The news of untold numbers of international co-workers feared dead left local affiliates shocked and grief-ridden.

Marsh & Mclennan (Bermuda) president Andrew Carr said there was not much he could report as he was unable to get in touch with anyone in New York.

But he told The Royal Gazette the 150 employees in the Bermuda office had stopped work and watched in disbelief as the tragedy unfolded and he had been horrified to watch the footage on television.

Mr. Carr said staff were given the choice of going home for the day and several did as they were overcome with the tragedy. He added that many of the local staff had business relationships and friendships with employees in the towers.

Marsh & Mclennan in New York employed more than 1,000 employees in offices in both the South and North Manhattan towers.

Some of their offices were located in the top five floors of the South tower - the first to be hit.

And Mr. Carr said that the company's Management Information Systems (MIS) department was also located in one of the towers and they would have to wait and see if their emergency contingency plan could be implemented.

Meanwhile, Aon Bermuda executive director Alan Cossar was noticeably shaken by the devastation.

"AON Risk Services had a significant office in New York with which our Bermuda offices conducted business and our staff interacted and built many business relationships and friendships," he said.

"Our prayers, thoughts and feelings are with our many colleagues friends and family at this time."

While XL Capital suffered no direct impact from the attack, the company added its sympathies to those who suffered. A company spokesman said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. It is inappropriate and premature at this time to begin any attempt to assess the other losses suffered today."

ACE Ltd not only closed its US and UK operations today and tomorrow as a safety precaution, but also closed its Bermuda offices in sympathy.