Several thousand people, including a group of exchange students from the US, observed three minutes' silence in Derry's Guildhall yesterday in memory of the victims of Tuesday's attacks in the US.
Many wept as the Guildhall clock chimed at 11 a.m. to start the period of silence. Bus and taxi drivers and motorists left their vehicles and stood with heads bowed.
The mayor, Cllr Mildred Garfield, stood on the Guildhall steps with church, civic and political representatives. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, told mourners many in Ireland were bereaved and traumatised by the events on Tuesday.
"Many are waiting in hope almost against hope to discover their loved ones who went to work on Tuesday and who have not come home."
Meanwhile, the Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, Dr Francis Lagan, said political leaders in the US needed the courage to make the right decisions following the attacks.