US commemorates 25th anniversary of devastating 9/11 attacks as their legacy endures

The United States on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with a solemn ceremony in New York.

The anniversary was marked by commemorations across the country, including wreath-laying ceremonies, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims’ names, as well as volunteer initiatives.

On 11 September 2001, hijackers from al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist group, seized four commercial jets and crashed them into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people.

US President Donald Trump attended a ceremony at the Pentagon rather than in New York, drawing criticism from some victims’ relatives and linked the post-9/11 “war on terror” to the current war in Iran.

"Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget. That's why we fight today," Trump said.

9/11’s legacy: Security vs freedom

The 11 September attacks left a lasting impact on many aspects of life in the United States and continue to shape the debate over the balance between security and freedom.

The attacks transformed US air travel, led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and prompted new federal surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers, as well as new banking regulations.

They also fostered a culture of individual vigilance, summed up by the slogan “if you see something, say something”, while a wave of patriotism encouraged some Americans to join the military, fire departments and police forces.

New York mayor attends 9/11 ceremony amid criticism

The September 11 attacks fuelled mistrust, prejudice and hate crimes against Muslims in the United States. Twenty-five years later, Muslim Americans have a growing role in public life, with Zohran Mamdani serving as New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Mamdani attended Friday’s Ground Zero ceremony despite a campaign urging him to stay away, backed by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the right-wing New York Post newspaper.

A petition was signed by more than 100,000 people. It accuses Mamdani of links to individuals seen as dismissive of US institutions or extremist ideologies.

Mamdani was recently praised for releasing documents revealing what city officials knew about toxic air in Lower Manhattan after 9/11, which has been linked to cancers affecting thousands of New Yorkers.