The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks is being marked in New York with a private memorial ceremony, a heightened security operation and renewed anger that the alleged plotters have still not faced trial.
Families of those killed are gathering at the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan to read the names of the victims, while President Donald Trump attends a separate ceremony at the Pentagon. Events are also taking place in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after passengers attempted to seize control from the hijackers.
The commemoration at Ground Zero began at 8.30am local time and includes seven moments of silence. They correspond to the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, the collapse of the Twin Towers, the crash of Flight 93 and the deaths of first responders, recovery workers and others from illnesses linked to the attacks.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum said relatives would read the names of the 2,983 people killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing. The ceremony is not open to the general public, although it is being broadcast online.
Four former US presidents are attending the New York ceremony, alongside Vice-President JD Vance, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mr Mamdani, taking part in his first anniversary ceremony as mayor, said he wanted the event to remain focused on the victims, their families and the city’s loss rather than politics.
Alleged 9/11 plotters still await trial
For many families, the anniversary is overshadowed by the continued delay in the military commission case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three other alleged plotters held at Guantanamo Bay.
A military judge has ordered jury selection to begin on June 5, 2028, after rejecting prosecutors’ request for a January 2027 trial. Mr Mohammed is accused of being the principal architect of the attacks, but the charges remain allegations and the defendants have not been convicted.
Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said there was “significant frustration” among relatives who had yet to see justice or accountability.
“The trials are still in a pre-trial phase at Guantanamo … that’s been dragging on endlessly,” he said.
The case has been delayed for years by disputes over evidence, the treatment of the defendants in US custody and other pre-trial matters. The new timetable means the proceedings are not expected to begin until almost 27 years after the attacks.
Health effects continue decades later
The anniversary is also being used to highlight the continuing health consequences of the attacks. About 6,000 first responders, survivors and volunteers are said to have died from illnesses connected to the rescue, recovery and clean-up operations.
The New York City Fire Department recently added the names of 36 firefighters who died from related diseases to its memorial wall. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said the additions were reminders that “the legacy of September 11th doesn’t end on one single day”.
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund has received at least 112,000 claims and awarded more than $18 billion. New York’s World Trade Centre Health Registry is also tracking the long-term health of 71,000 people who were exposed to dust, debris, smoke or psychological trauma in Lower Manhattan.
Mr Mamdani’s administration has released more than 170,000 pages of city records about the response to the attacks and their aftermath. The documents include material concerning toxic air, asbestos and what officials knew about conditions around Ground Zero.
Peter Raho, who worked near the site and was later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said: “The government told us the air was safe to breathe.”
The New York Police Department has mounted what Commissioner Jessica Tisch described as a “massive” security operation. Officers, counter-terrorism teams, heavy-weapons units and counter-drone teams have been deployed around Lower Manhattan, with the operation being conducted alongside the US Secret Service and other agencies.
Road closures and pedestrian restrictions began early on Friday, with officials advising people not to drive into downtown Manhattan. The memorial service is limited to invited guests and includes security screening.
As night falls, the Tribute in Light will send two beams into the sky from Lower Manhattan, marking the position of the Twin Towers. The display has become one of the city’s most recognisable annual memorials.
