terrorism
22 years later: USA commemorate terror of September 11th
Firefighters salute during a minute’s silence before the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Photo
© Yuki Iwamura/AP/dpa
More than two decades ago, a terrorist attack of unprecedented proportions changed the world. Memorial ceremonies at various locations in the USA commemorate the catastrophe back then.
22 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, people in the USA commemorated the victims with numerous events. At a memorial service in New York, relatives read out the names of the approximately 3,000 people who died in the attacks.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and New York Mayor Eric Adams also attended the event. US President Joe Biden wanted to give a short commemorative speech at a military base in the US state of Alaska later in the day on his return journey from the summit of the Group of Major Economic Nations (G20) in India.
On September 11, 2001, around 3,000 people were killed in the worst attack in the history of terrorism. The terrorists had hijacked four planes. After piloting American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, another plane flew into the South Tower a short time later. The attackers directed American Airlines Flight 77 to the Defense Department near Washington. A fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers resisted the hijackers. It is still unclear what the hijackers’ goal was with the fourth plane.
Mourning events also took place at the Pentagon and at the crash site in Pennsylvania. First Lady Jill Biden wanted to lay a wreath at the Pentagon in the afternoon (local time). Vice President Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, wanted to take part in a memorial in Shanksville.
Blinken calls for the fight against terror
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned: “Remembering those who died on September 11th reminds us why we must continue to fight against those who commit terrorist attacks.” In the years since the attack, the United States, together with partners from around the world, have tried to put an end to the scourge of terrorism. The United States continues to do so.
The USA went into the “war on terror” after the attacks of September 11th. The invasion of Afghanistan was followed by the war in Iraq in 2003, the effects of which ultimately encouraged the founding of the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS). The mastermind of the attacks, Osama bin Laden, was killed by US special forces in 2011 after a long search.
Memorial event at the World Trade Center