Sites jammed following attacks

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 | 10:01 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Internet traffic slowed and major news websites were jammed Tuesday as people craving details on the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks flooded online.

But the Net also proved its mettle as a communications facilitator in a time of crisis.

Electronic mail was a godsend for many people trying to reach loved ones but frustrated by clogged telephone voice circuits, and websites were established to help people find out whether friends and family survived.

The Internet search engine Google directed news seekers to radio and television. "Many online news services are not available, because of extremely high demand," a statement read on the popular site's home page.

Television broadcasts did not appear to promote their websites as heavily as they normally do during breaking news.

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