A solemn ceremony is underway at the World Trade Center site in New York City as the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
Families of victims, survivors, first responders, government officials and members of the public have gathered at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at Ground Zero to honour the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks.
The annual remembrance ceremony centres on the reading of the victims’ names, with relatives and loved ones taking turns to publicly remember those who died when hijacked passenger planes were crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
The 2001 attacks killed 2,753 people in New York City alone, while 2,977 people were killed across the three attack sites. The tragedy also left thousands of survivors and first responders suffering long-term health consequences from exposure to toxic dust and debris.
This year’s commemoration carries additional significance as it marks a quarter of a century since the attacks. For the first time, organizers have included a seventh moment of silence to honour people who died in the years following 9/11 from illnesses linked to exposure during the rescue and recovery operations.
Among those attending the New York ceremony are Vice President JD Vance and all four living former U.S. presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. President Donald Trump is observing the anniversary separately at the Pentagon.
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The ceremony comes as authorities continue efforts to identify victims whose remains have never been conclusively matched. In August, New York officials announced the identification of another previously unidentified victim, bringing the number of victims identified through ongoing forensic work to 1,654.
Beyond the ceremonies in New York, memorial events are also taking place at the Pentagon in Virginia and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, where Americans are paying tribute to those who died and reflecting on the lasting impact of the attacks.
Twenty-five years on, Ground Zero remains a powerful symbol of grief, remembrance and resilience, as families and a new generation continue to honour the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
