Industry and business across Northern Ireland fell silent for three minutes as the North paused yesterday to remember the thousands of people believed to have died in the terrorist attack on New York.

Business bodies and leaders in Northern Ireland also sent personal messages of support and sympathy to the United States Consul-General in the North, Mrs Barbara Stephenson.

At FG Wilson Engineering in Larne, more than 1,000 employees of the American-owned group remembered the tragic events in New York earlier this week.

Outside the factory the United States flag has flown at half-mast since Tuesday, Mr Tom McDaniel, its American vice-president of manufacturing operations, said the company had also set up a special fund for donations to the New York tragedy.

"I think people feel this more personally because we are an American company and we have a number of American nationals working in Northern Ireland.

There are currently more than 60 US companies with operations in Northern Ireland; many of have personnel based in the North and vice versa.

Over 16,000 people in Northern Ireland are employed directly by American companies who have invested more than £650 million in the North in the last six years.

According to Mr John Stringer, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the long-term relationship between the North and the US, has brought the tragedy closer to home.

Mr Bill Jeffrey, vice-chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in the North, was one of hundreds of people who queued to sign the book of condolence at the consul's office this week.

"People in Northern Ireland can relate to this tragedy because of all that has happened in Northern Ireland during recent years " he said.

Mr Leslie Ross, acting chief executive of the Industrial Development Board in the North, said the economic impact of the terrorist attack is not the primary concern for Northern Ireland at this time.