New York commemorates 9/11 anniversary

It's 20 years since the 9/11 attacks in the USA. People came to services to remember the attacks. Terrorists crashed four passenger planes and destroyed New York's twin towers.

Bells were rung for moments of silence. They marked the time each plane crashed and when each twin tower fell.

2,977 people's names were read out by their families. 40 percent of the people were never found, which gave these services more importance. President Biden spoke about remembering.

Joe Biden: "These memorials are really important. But they're also incredibly difficult for the people who were affected by them, because it brings back the moment you got the phone call, it brings back that instant you got the news, no matter how many years go by."

The attacks killed one of Mark Papadimitriou's friends. He's sure that memorial services send a positive message. They show families that we haven't forgotten.

Mark Papadimitriou: "I have a friend that passed away. His wife was pregnant. So now I know that his daughter is, you know, now 19. And that marks a lifetime already. And so many people have the same story. So many families were disrupted. And we just need to let them know that all those people are not forgotten."

George W Bush, who was president when the attacks happened, spoke in Pennsylvania at the Flight 93 memorial. He remembered how united the American people were then.

George W Bush: "In the weeks and months following the 9/11 attacks, I was proud to lead an amazing, resilient, united people. When it comes to the unity of America, those days seem distant from our own.

The number of people killed by the 9/11 attacks is increasing. The explosions contained particles and chemicals which cause health problems. Many people have become ill with cancers or have problems breathing. They are fighting for better support with their illnesses.

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