The United States is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with families and officials gathering at the World Trade Center site in New York to honour the victims.
Relatives of those killed are reading out the names of the victims as mourners observe moments of silence marking the four hijacked planes’ attacks and the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Another moment is being observed in memory of people who have died from illnesses linked to the attacks.
US Vice-President JD Vance, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama are among those attending the New York commemoration.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is attending a separate ceremony at the Pentagon to honour the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building.
On September 11, 2001, hijackers seized four commercial aircraft in a coordinated attack. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York, while another struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
The fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers.
A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks, which became one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in US history.
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia is also hosting remembrance activities. The outdoor memorial, which opened in 2008, features 184 illuminated benches engraved with the names of those who died in the Pentagon and aboard Flight 77.