Many dozens killed in Pentagon air attack: Rumsfeld
( 2001-09-12 10:50 ) (7 )

Many dozens of people aboard a hijacked airliner were killed on Tuesday when it slammed into the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said. But he said there were no solid casualty figures from the attack.

He said precautions have been taken to protect the United States against further attack but there was no guarantee that terrorists would not strike again.

"There is no question but that the attack against the United States of America today was a vicious, well-coordinated, massive attack against the United States of America," he said.

Rumsfeld spoke from a nearly deserted Pentagon in a briefing room reeking with the smell of smoke hours after the American Airlines jetliner struck, smashing deep into the west side of the the building.

Flanking Rumsfeld was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton, the chairman and ranking Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Army Secretary Thomas White.

"The Pentagon is functioning, It will be in business tomorrow," he said.

Rumsfeld, who was in his office when the American Airlines jetliner hit at around 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT), said he felt the shock of the impact.

"We know there were large numbers, many dozens (of people) in the aircraft," he said, saying that the plane struck between the first and second floor "at full power."

"There cannot be any survivors. It would just be beyond comprehension," he said.

He said the bodies of a number of dead had been recovered but was unable to give a toll of the dead, missing and injured.

"It's not possible to have solid casualty figures at this time," he said.

Rumsfeld declined comment on whether there were any warnings from US intelligence that an attack was in the offing.

Nor would he give details on the measures that have been taken to prevent further attacks, but he confirmed that US forces worldwide were put on their highest threat alert, Delta, shortly after the attacks.

"We have watched the tragedy of an outrageous act of barbaric terrorism carried out by fanatics against both civilians and military people, acts that have killed and maimed many innocent and decent people," Shelton said.

"I have no intentions to today of discussing what comes next. But make not mistake about it. Your armed forces are ready," he said.