New York City, United States — New Yorkers commemorated the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday, marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and reshaped the United States and the world.
Families of the victims gathered at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza in Lower Manhattan, carrying flowers and photographs of loved ones as the city observed the anniversary, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance attended the annual remembrance ceremony alongside former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
The first moment of silence was held at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first hijacked passenger plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Relatives then began reading the names of those killed. Another moment of silence was observed at 9:03 a.m., when the second hijacked plane struck the South Tower.
For the first time, organizers also observed a moment of silence for thousands of people who have died from illnesses linked to toxic dust and other hazards in the aftermath of the attacks.
As night fell, two massive blue beams forming the annual “Tribute in Light” illuminated the New York skyline in memory of the fallen Twin Towers. Other landmarks, including the Empire State Building, were also illuminated in blue.
Flags at New York City government departments and agencies were flown at half-staff for the anniversary.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier issued an executive order designating Sept. 11 as a “Day of Remembrance and Service.”
The commemoration also honored first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center after the attacks.
More than 200 firefighters from around the world completed a 343-mile cycling journey from Boston to Ground Zero on Thursday. The “Ride for Resilience” honored the 343 firefighters who died on Sept. 11 and sought to support first responders facing long-term health problems.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is also set to open a special exhibition, “In Their Honor,” on Saturday, highlighting how New Yorkers responded to the tragedy and helped rebuild their communities.
On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida militants hijacked four passenger planes. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York, another struck the Pentagon outside Washington, while the fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.
With reports from Xinhua News Agency
