Key facts
- The nation is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
- Nearly 3,000 victims died in the 2001 attacks orchestrated by al-Qaida.
- Two planes hit the World Trade Center, one struck the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.
- Survivors and those impacted by the attacks are sharing their stories.
- A new exhibition will showcase missing people posters from the aftermath.
- The US response to the attacks, including Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, is noted for its dark legacy.
The nation is observing the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a day that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. On that day, 19 al-Qaida hijackers took control of four commercial airliners, leading to devastating impacts in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Ceremonies are being held globally to commemorate the victims. Survivors like Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark, who were in the south tower of the World Trade Center, shared their experiences. Anna Sweeney Rossman, whose mother was a flight attendant on American Airlines flight 11, spoke about the lasting impact of the day. CIA veterans also recounted the chaos within the agency as the attacks unfolded.
The anniversary also prompts reflection on the broader consequences of the US response to the attacks, with a commentary noting the "dark legacy" of actions such as Guantánamo Bay and the Abu Ghraib scandal. The article acknowledges that while al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's immediate goal may have been to shake the world, his wider strategic plans are seen as having failed.
An exhibition of "missing" posters, captured by photographer Phil Buehler, will also be part of the commemorations, highlighting the confusion and loss in the aftermath of the World Trade Center's collapse.