New York: New York remembered on Friday the attack that shattered it 25 years ago honouring the nearly 3,000 people killed by Islamist terrorists.
Relatives of the victims read their names as solemn music played in the background at the World Trade Centre memorial, now a hallowed spot where the buildings once soared.
The ceremony began with the ringing of a silver bell like those on fire engines and a moment of silence while former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and Vice-President JD Vance stood, with hands on their heart.
The attack took place on George W. Bush’s watch, and Obama avenged it in an operation against al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hiding in a refuge granted by Pakistan.
The nephew of Sushil Solanki and the daughter of Deepa Pakkala were among the relatives solemnly intoning the names of those killed when two planes hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists hit the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.
About 50 people of Indian origin are among those who died in the attack on that day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a message on social media platform X recalled his visit to the memorial and, and pledging India’s commitment to fighting terrorism said, “25 years on from the horrific 9/11 attacks, we remember and honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the families whose lives were forever changed.”
“Terrorism has claimed countless lives around the world. As a victim of cross-border terrorism, India has been at the forefront of this fight for several decades,” PM Modi added.
Another hijacked plane hit the Pentagon, where President Donald Trump led a memorial meeting.
Passengers on a plane overpowered the hijackers and crashed the plane on a field in Pennsylvania thwarting another attack on Washington.
In New York, some of the families of victims of the terror attack opposed Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s participation in the memorial ceremonies because of his alleged ties to some who were sympathetic to Islamist terrorism like media personality Hasan Piker.
The families circulated a petition to have Mamdani barred, but he attended it along with former Mayor Rudi Giuliani, who led the city at that time and opposed Mamdani being there.
Ahead of the anniversary, Mamdani release a cache of documents showing that officials knew of the potential health hazards from the deadly dust spewed by the falling towers but suppressed the reports.
More than 57,000 people who worked in the rescue and cleanup efforts or lived in the area of the World Trade Centre have been diagnosed with cancer and registered in a health program for survivors.
(IANS)
