New York marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

New York marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center with a ceremony that drew controversy and drew attention to the role of Saudi Arabia in the attacks. President Donald Trump was absent from the ceremony, which was held at the Pentagon, while former President George W. Bush and four living former presidents attended the Ground Zero site.

Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York's first Muslim mayor, also attended the ceremony, facing right-wing criticism from the New York Post and Rudy Giuliani. A petition with over 100,000 signatures accused him of associating with individuals dismissive of American institutions. Vice President Kamala Harris and the living presidents gave a silent tribute to the victims by tolling a bell at key moments in the attacks.

The ceremony was apolitical, with no speeches, as family members read out the names of the 2,977 victims. The attacks, carried out by mostly Saudi hijackers, sparked years of U.S. involvement in Middle East wars and controversy over Washington's human rights record. Since the attacks, over 9,400 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses, and more than 100 million Americans were either born or too young to remember the traumatic day.

Firefighter John Fila, whose firehouse lost 15 members on 9/11, shared his reflections on the enduring impact of the attacks on first responders. The Secret Service deployed a security ring and an anti-drone team for the memorial, with no intelligence of a specific threat. Al-Qaeda released a video marking the anniversary, showing images of late leader Osama bin Laden and his son Hamza, whom Trump claimed had also been killed.