United States marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

The United States observed the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Friday, with President Donald Trump absent from the New York ceremony. Right-wing backlash emerged over the attendance of the city's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Trump paid his respects at the Pentagon, while Vice-President JD Vance and four living former presidents attended the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan.

No speeches were given; instead, bereaved family members recited the names of the 2,977 victims, and a bell rang to signify key moments during the attack. Robert Kafka, a visitor, emphasized the importance of memorials and discussions to prevent future tragedies. Despite a petition with over 100,000 signatures urging Mamdani to stay away, she received praise for revealing documents about toxicity levels in Lower Manhattan following the attacks.

Nineteen al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four planes on September 11, 2001, leading to the collapse of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a crash into a Pennsylvania field. Over 9,400 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses, and millions of U.S. citizens were too young to remember the events. The Secret Service deployed a security ring and an anti-drone team, but there were no specific threats reported.

Al-Qaeda released a video marking the anniversary, featuring images of its late leader and his son. As the memorial service approached, a drone show with 2,977 lights illuminated New York Harbor, one for each victim.