Sympathy, solidarity as US marks 21st anniversary

People on Sunday marked the twenty first anniversary of the 9/11 assaults, with President Joe Biden visiting the Pentagon and New Yorkers honouring the practically 3,000 individuals killed when hijacked planes destroyed the Twin Towers.

Kin of victims, cops, firefighters and metropolis leaders gathered on the Nationwide September 11 Memorial in Decrease Manhattan, the place the names of those that died had been learn aloud – as they’ve been yearly for the reason that deadliest single assault on US soil.

They rang bells and held moments of silence at 8:46 am and 9:03 am (1246 and 1303 GMT), the exact occasions the passenger jets struck the World Commerce Centre’s North and South Towers.

Biden commemorated the anniversary on the Pentagon, the place Al-Qaeda hijackers crashed a aircraft into the large constructing that serves as Defence Division headquarters.

In a gentle rain, the president approached a wreath of flowers exterior the constructing and positioned his hand over his coronary heart.

“Twenty-one years later, we preserve alive the reminiscence of all the valuable lives stolen from us at Floor Zero, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and on the Pentagon,” Biden mentioned on Twitter forward of delivering remarks.

“To the households and family members who nonetheless really feel the ache, Jill and I maintain you shut in our hearts.”

Al-Qaeda hijacked a complete of 4 planes. The third hit the Pentagon and the fourth, Flight 93, crashed in a area in Pennsylvania after passengers launched a revolt onboard.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Mayor Eric Adams had been among the many dignitaries attending the New York ceremony, the place kinfolk hugged each other, positioned flowers on the memorial and held placards or wore shirts with photographs of their misplaced family members.

“Whereas the grief recedes a bit with time, the everlasting absence of my father is simply as palpable because it ever was,” the son of Jon Leslie Albert mentioned after studying a number of victims’ names, together with his father’s.

Messages of sympathy and help got here from exterior the nation, together with from NATO Secretary Basic Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who known as September 11 “probably the most tragic days” for the US and the world.

“Going through missile assaults every day, Ukraine is aware of nicely what terrorism is and sincerely sympathizes with the American individuals,” Zelensky tweeted, referring to the Russian invasion of his nation that has left hundreds lifeless.

New York was illuminated late Saturday by a “Tribute in Mild” that confirmed two blue beams projecting into the night time sky symbolizing the Twin Towers.

AFP