New York Holds 25th Anniversary Ceremony to Remember 9/11 Victims
New York: The United States on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, with a major remembrance ceremony held at the National September 11 Memorial in New York.
The anniversary gathering at Ground Zero brought together victims’ families, senior political figures and former US presidents. The event was also surrounded by political controversy following President Donald Trump’s decision not to attend the New York ceremony and criticism over the participation of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Former US Presidents Attend Ground Zero Ceremony
The memorial ceremony began shortly after 8:40am local time and was designed as a non-political event without speeches.
Vice President JD Vance attended alongside former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Family members of those who died in the attacks read the names of the victims, while bells were sounded at key moments to commemorate the events of that day.
Trump Pays Tribute at Pentagon
President Donald Trump chose to commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon rather than joining the ceremony in New York.
The 9/11 attacks involved four hijacked passenger aircraft. Two struck the World Trade Centre in New York, one hit the Pentagon, while the fourth crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks.
Controversy Over New York’s Muslim Mayor
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, attended the Ground Zero ceremony despite a campaign calling for him to stay away.
The campaign received support from conservative figures and media outlets, while a petition reportedly collected more than 100,000 signatures.
Critics questioned Mamdani’s associations and views, while supporters argued that his attendance should not be judged on the basis of his religion.
City Council member Shahana Hanif said it was concerning that the mayor was being treated differently because he is Muslim.
9/11 Health Impact Continues
The legacy of the attacks has extended far beyond the deaths recorded on September 11, 2001.
The collapse of the World Trade Centre created a massive dust cloud, followed by months of pollution and hazardous air conditions in Lower Manhattan. Thousands of people have since developed serious illnesses linked to exposure.
According to the federal programme established to support affected individuals, more than 9,400 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses.
New York Remembers Those Lost
The anniversary also highlighted how the events are being remembered by younger generations.
Millions of Americans were born after the attacks or were too young to understand what happened at the time. Families of victims continue to share their experiences to ensure the events are not forgotten.
The memorial site saw large crowds, with visitors leaving flowers and flags in honour of those who lost their lives.
Tight Security Around Memorial Site
Authorities implemented extensive security measures around the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan.
The US Secret Service established a security perimeter because of the presence of senior political figures. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch also confirmed that an anti-drone team would be deployed as a precaution.
Officials stressed that there was no specific intelligence indicating a threat to the anniversary ceremony.
The 25th anniversary served as a reminder of the lasting human impact of the September 11 attacks and the importance of preserving the memories of those who lost their lives.
