September 11 remains an unforgettable day in the history of United States of America and constantly is embalmed in the hearts of Americans.
Though it was a day Osama Bin Laden-led Al-Qaeda struck and sent thousands to their early graves, the puzzling aspect of the attack was beating the security network of a country aptly regarded as the “most powerful nation in the world.”
The September 11 attacks – commonly referred to as 9/11- were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda gainst the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks resulted in more than 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries.
Four passenger airliners which had departed from airports in the northeastern United States bound for California were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-storey towers collapsed.
Debris and the resulting fires caused a partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-storey 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to 10 other large surrounding structures. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, which led to a partial collapse of the building’s west side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was initially flown toward Washington, D.C., but it crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, after passengers thwarted the hijackers.
In commemoration of the day, social media are awash with reactions from different organisations and persons marked the day with bated breath.
Rivals for the White House have displayed a moment of unity as the US marks the 19th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden greeted Vice-President Mike Pence at the Ground Zero memorial in New York, where each attended ceremonies.
Mr. Biden then travelled to Shanksville, Pennsylvania – the site of the Flight 93 memorial – to pay respects.
President Donald Trump spoke there earlier on Friday.
However, Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump did not cross paths because their schedules did not overlap.
Joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Mr Trump attended a morning service at the Shanksville memorial, where Flight 93 crashed after its 40 passengers and crew prevented al-Qaeda hijackers from reaching the US Capitol building.
“To the family members of Flight 93: today every heartbeat in America is wedded to yours,” Mr Trump said. “Your pain and anguish is the shared grief of our whole nation.”
From FBI Las Vegas, it was an emotional moment. It tweeted “When duty called, they answered. The #FBI family members who lost their lives due to their #September 11 service are memorialized on the FBIHQ & in every field office across the country. More about our heroes.”
Purity Spring Resort wrote “Another beautiful September day. But it is this 11th day of September, 19 years now having passed, that many remember; the lives lost, the selfless heroes and the course of history forever changed.”
NJ TRANSIT Police said “For the courage of heroes, both uniformed & civilian. For those who risked all to save the lives of others. For the families whose loved ones are held only in memory. Our nation pauses to pay our respects. We will never forget.”
The Girls Academy penned “Today, we remember the lives that were lost and survivors on9/11. Let’s honor them and never forget.”
FBI Atlanta tweeted “Today, the #FBI joins the nation in remembering and honoring the victims of the #September 11 terrorist attacks.”
