US Marks 25 Years Since the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

The US marks 25 years since the 11 September terrorist attacks

Today, the US is marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Memorial ceremonies are being held across the country, whilst in New York, relatives of the victims are reading out the names of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks. A quarter of a century on, 11 September remains an event that changed American politics, the security system and the lives of millions of people.

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On the morning of 11 September 2001, 19 members of al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger aeroplanes. Two of them crashed into the towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. Another plane struck the Pentagon near Washington, whilst the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers and crew attempted to stop the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people were killed.

Today, the main commemorative ceremonies are taking place at three sites linked to the attacks: at the World Trade Centre Memorial in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the fourth plane crashed. US President Donald Trump is attending the ceremony at the Pentagon. In New York, Vice-President J.D. Vance is attending the event, whilst representatives of the administration have travelled to Pennsylvania, according to the Associated Press.

A new element has been added to this year’s ceremony in New York. For the first time, a separate minute’s silence will be observed to honour those who have died from illnesses linked to exposure to toxic dust following the collapse of the World Trade Centre towers. The government’s medical assistance programme for victims now covers more than 150,000 people.

The consequences of the terrorist attacks extended far beyond New York and Washington. The US launched protracted military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, stepped up domestic security measures and expanded the powers of the security services. Following 11 September, a new federal agency was established — the Department of Homeland Security. The wars that began after the attacks continued for years and resulted in significant human and financial losses.

According to AAP, for Americans, 11 September remains more than just a historical date. A new Ipsos poll reveals that roughly half of US adults consider the terrorist attacks to be the most significant historical event of their lives. The majority of those surveyed still remember where they were on that day. For young Americans who were born after 2001 or were too young to remember the events, 11 September is increasingly becoming a part of history that they learn about from textbooks and the stories of their elders.

In New York, two beams of light will once again be lit up in the evening, serving as a reminder of the World Trade Centre towers. This installation appears over the city every year on 11 September. In 2026, it became part of a large-scale programme marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Twenty-five years after the attacks, the memory of those who died remains at the heart of this anniversary. But the anniversary also prompts the US to reflect on another legacy of 11 September — the wars, the tightening of security measures, the long-term health consequences for rescue workers, and the gradual passing of a generation of people who personally remember the morning that changed the country.

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