British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair hopes to visit the scene of devastation in New York on a visit to the US later this week, it was confirmed tonight.
He is to fly to Washington for talks with President George Bush on Thursday before possibly going to New York to see for himself the carnage inflicted in last week's terrorist attacks.
Mr Blair wants to visit New York to show support for the emergency services and to meet relatives of British victims, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
The visit was at President Bush's invitation, Downing Street said. Mr Blair is expected to go ahead with a pre-planned trip to Germany for talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday.
He will then travel to Paris early on Thursday morning for a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac before flying to Washington for a working dinner with President Bush.
"Mr Blair welcomes the fact that the American administration is consulting widely and building a coalition of international support for any response to last week's atrocities," the Downing Street spokeswoman said.
"The Prime Minister hopes to be able to travel to New York both to express his support and gratitude to the emergency services there and also to meet some of the relatives of the British people who so tragically lost their lives in the attacks."
The exact timetable of Mr Blair's visit is expected to be finalised tomorrow.