Ireland is "shocked to the core" by the Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the US, the Taoiseach said today.
Speaking in Dublin Mr Ahern spoke of the huge closeness between Ireland and the United States, saying the hearts and minds of Ireland were with those involved in the mammoth rescue effort now under way in New York.
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"There is that close historical connection, that cultural connection . . . the people here are shocked to the core," he said.
Tomorrow "Ireland effectively closes down" for a day of mourning, he said. Businesses, State Departments and schools will all be closed down for the day.
"We will show our solidarity with the victims, the families, and the people of the United States", Mr Ahern said.
He said it was impossible at this stage to know how many Irish people had been affected by the New York atrocity, but many may have been working there for short periods, others had emigrated there and many generations of Irish-Americans were born there.
The Taoiseach said Ireland backed the United States in the action it will take in response to the attacks, which were "against human dignity".
"We understand the predicament the United States is in. We understand terrorism has to be defeated. They [the terrorists] have to be rooted out".
