Many employees were sent home today as employers closed their doors following the apparent terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington.

The attacks have spread fear throughout the U.S., rippling into Canada.

Trading at Toronto’s and Vancouver’s stock exchanges were halted. The CN Tower, Canada’s tallest and most recognizable structure, has been closed.

In light of today’s extraordinary events, CIBC has decided, as a precautionary measure, to suspend operations at BCE Place and at the Commerce Court complex. With the exception of the main branch at Commerce Court, which is closed, all other CIBC retail operations remain open. The Bank of Nova Scotia tower has also closed.

Bank of Montreal’s main branch at First Canadian Place in Toronto has been closed. Employees from other offices in the building have been allowed to go home, too.

The TD Tower and the Eaton Center will remain open, says an official for the buildings’ management company. “Authorities at the provincial and federal levels have advised us that there is no reason, at the present time, to change our operations. Nevertheless, because a number of our tenants are closing their offices, and to err on the side of caution, we are encouraging all of our tenants to close their offices for the balance of the day.”

Bourse de Montreal Inc. has suspended trading for the day. The head office Transcontinental Media — Investment Executive’s parent company — has closed it office on 1100 Rene- Levesque Blvd. in Montreal. The office building is located across from Israel’s consulate in that city. The Israeli government has evacuated all of its embassies and consulates throughout the world, in the wake of the attacks in the U.S.

Some of Canada’s busiest border crossings are on high alert, with searches being conducted of every vehicle headed into and out of the U.S. Buses to and from Washington and New York City have been cancelled. Canada’s military and police have shifted into emergency mode.

At Pearson International Airport in Toronto, officials are coping with the influx of thousands of passengers from international flights that were diverted from the U.S. to Canada.

At Parliament Hill, officials are on alert and the RCMP has increased security at the U.S. embassy.

CIBC World Markets spokesperson Katherine Gay says that to its knowledge, CIBC has not suffered any casualties in today’s attacks.