World marks 25th anniversary of September 11 attacks amid controversy over Trump's remarks
The United States and cities worldwide held ceremonies on 11 September to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the al-Qaeda attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The anniversary renewed focus on the long-term health effects experienced by those exposed to toxic dust at Ground Zero, and controversy arose after President Trump made disputed claims about his personal actions on the day of the attacks.
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Ceremonies took place across the United States and internationally on 11 September to mark 25 years since the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda operatives. The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives when hijacked airliners were flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, while a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Survivors, first responders, and relatives of victims participated in memorial events, including a vigil organized by the group September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. The anniversary drew renewed attention to the long-term health consequences faced by those exposed to toxic dust at Ground Zero. Newly disclosed municipal records revealed that New York City health officials detected asbestos up to half a mile from the World Trade Center site as long as ten months after the attacks, confirming concerns that advocacy groups representing responders and residents had raised for years. The commemorations were marked by controversy when President Trump made claims about his personal actions on the day of the attacks. However, contemporaneous footage showed him watching television that morning rather than at the scene, as he had suggested. The anniversary also prompted broader reflection in American and international media on the subsequent wars and domestic security policies, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
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