America is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, with ceremonies across the country honouring the 2,977 people killed and the thousands who have since died from illnesses linked to the disaster.
Families of victims are gathering at the 9/11 Memorial in New York to read the names of those who died when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001.
The annual commemoration will include seven moments of silence, one more than in previous years. The additional pause recognises first responders, rescue workers and Lower Manhattan residents who have died from illnesses associated with exposure to toxic materials after the attacks.
The six established moments mark the strikes on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, the crash of Flight 93 and the collapses of both World Trade Centre buildings. The new moment will follow the reading of the victims’ names.
New York releases 9/11 records
The anniversary comes days after New York City released more than 170,000 pages of records relating to the government’s response to the attacks, including documents covering air quality and public health concerns around Ground Zero.
The records were made public by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration after the city settled two legal actions brought by 9/11 Health Watch. The organisation had sought access to documents concerning what officials knew about toxic air and when they knew it.
The release has renewed scrutiny of assurances given to residents and workers in the aftermath that the air was safe. Tens of thousands of people, including emergency responders and people who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan, have since developed 9/11-related conditions.
New York officials have designated September 11 as a citywide day of remembrance and service, with events planned to honour victims, survivors, responders and their families.
President Donald Trump is due to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon, while Vice-President JD Vance is also taking part in national commemorations. The White House has urged Americans to observe Patriot Day and remember those killed in the attacks.
A quarter-century of consequences
The attacks transformed US foreign policy, national security and daily life. In the years that followed, American forces and their allies fought lengthy wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, while the wider campaign against terrorism reshaped intelligence agencies and military operations around the world.
A study by Brown University found that about 7,000 US service members died in post-9/11 wars. Many others returned with physical injuries or psychological trauma, while the health consequences of the attacks continued to emerge among those exposed to the debris and contaminated air.
The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has added to debate over the long-term results of the military intervention launched after the attacks. The country is again under the group’s repressive rule, with women and girls facing severe restrictions.
For a generation that remembers the morning of September 11, 2001, the anniversary is a period of mourning and reflection. For younger Americans, it is increasingly a moment to learn about an event whose political, military and human consequences are still unfolding.
