SILENCE fell across York today as thousands of people paid their respects to the victims of Tuesday's terror attacks.

Normally bustling Parliament Street was transformed into a silent place of tribute for three sombre minutes.

The silence was immaculately observed, apart from the innocent sound of a baby crying and the flow of the Parliament Street fountain.

Disney Store manager Andre Bennett said: "We closed the doors for the three minutes. It was really nice to see the silence observed immaculately in the store and outside."

Friends Sharon Metcalfe and Kate Cox, of Easingwold, said: "It is good they are doing something to remember those people. The whole thing is terrible."

It was left to a New Yorker, who would give her name only as Carol, to sum the situation up.

"Any form of tribute is good. But when you think about what has happened what does it really mean?

"The events of the last few days have really made everyone take some time out to think."

York Minster clergy led more than 1,000 people in a short service of remembrance. Many wept openly, still struggling to come to terms with the disaster.

On a lamppost outside, a single bouquet of flowers was strapped to an American flag.

Peggy Mellers, of York: "The Minster was the place to come to. I have relatives in America and I wanted to be here to tell them I was thinking of them."

Val Clark, of Huntington, added: "There's so little we can do to help, I wanted to be here just to do something.

"I have been very upset by this tragedy and being at the Minster has helped me to feel better."

And Ann Beaumont, of Nottinghamshire, said: "By being here, at least we can feel we have given something to the people of America."

Firefighters stood united with their New York counterparts as they bowed their heads in silence.

Barry Kirkpatrick, station commander at York fire station, said the events had hit home hard to all of the city's firefighters.

"We are not strangers to death and destruction, but the sheer scale of what has been visited on New York has touched every one of us."

He spoke of the hope that came from the five firefighters rescued yesterday: "We know that it is not over by a long way and the risk of further loss of life is high. We know the firefighters will be very tired now, but we know they will stay until as long as there is still hope."

Val Clark, of Huntington, added: "There's so little we can do to help, I wanted to be here just to do something.

"I have been very upset by this tragedy and being at the Minster has helped me to feel better."

And Ann Beaumont, of Nottinghamshire, said: "By being here, at least we can feel we have given something to the people of America."

Elsewhere, shops, offices, factories, railway stations, airports, courts and schools joined the Europe-wide gesture of support. The Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair took part, along with bus drivers, shop assistants and suspects awaiting criminal trials.

Thousands gathered at St Paul's Cathedral for a service of remembrance, attended by The Queen and Prince Charles.

Fears grew today that terrorists planned further attacks after police swooped on men at two U.S. airports reported armed with knives and fake pilot identification.

At least one of the eight arrested was carrying a fake pilot's licence and some may have been carrying pen-knives, it was reported. Five were identified as the same men who had tried to board a plane close to the time of Tuesday's hijackings, but were turned away and fled.

Two men "with a history of hijacking" have been arrested on a Carnival Cruise liner off Florida, CNN reported.

Updated: 12:37 Friday, September 14, 2001