911 memorial news live Biden and Obama at Ground Zero as families pay tribute to attack victims

Watch live as 9/11 memorial ceremony held in Pennsylvania to remember those killed on hijacked Flight 93

The 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan in New York City has begun, marking the moment that the first plane hit the World Trade Center at 8.46am on 11 September 2001.

Three presidents have been seen at the memorial â€" Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton. First Lady Jill Biden, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are also in attendance.

Mr Biden has called for a return to the spirit of “true national unity” that took hold in America in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks 20 years ago.

On Friday night he said that togetherness was seen in “heroism everywhere”, adding: “To me that's the central lesson of 11 September. Unity is our greatest strength.”

The US president is to visit the site of all three attacks today, in New York City and Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. On Saturday morning world leaders including Queen Elizabeth II and Emmanuel Macron marked the occasion with solemn messages of support.

Washington has only just ended its involvement in one of the wars spawned by 9/11. Mr Biden withdrew American forces from Afghanistan last month as the native army the US had spent billions to equip and train collapsed, allowing the Taliban to retake power.

His unilateral decision caught allied nations on the hop and led to chaos in Kabul as thousands begged to be saved from the returning theocrats.

Meanwhile, people outside the US will reflect on a world changed forever by the hijackings which killed nearly 3,000 people two decades ago.

All-seeing government surveillance and other privacy infringements like full-body scanners at airports; the rise of Isis in the aftermath of the Iraq war; civilians slaughtered in anonymous drone strikes, including children; lawless “rendition” kidnappings of innocents and terrorists alike.

All this and more can be traced to the hours in which the globe stood aghast, watching smoke belch from the World Trade Centre before the towers’ horrifying collapse.

Show latest update 1631367922Trump records 9/11 anniversary message, spends most of it slamming Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan

Donald Trump recorded a video message ostensibly for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, but spent most of the message attack Joe Biden for the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“We had $85 billion of the finest and most sophisticated military equipment, taken from us without even a shot being fired. The leader of our country was made to look like a fool,” Mr Trump says in the message. He goes on to accuse the Biden White House of “bad planning” and showing “incredible weakness” before teasing another presidential run by saying “do not fear, American will be made great again.”

Graig Graziosi11 September 2021 14:451631366524Bruce Springsteen performs “I’ll See You in My Dreams” during memorial service

Bruce Springsteen performed his song “I’ll See You in My Dreams” during the second moment of silence at the Manhattan 9/11 memorial service.

Mr Springsteen’s 2002 album, “The Rising,” was written in response to the attacks.

Bruce Springsteen sings at Ground Zero 9/11 memorialGraig Graziosi11 September 2021 14:221631365940Gustaf Kilander11 September 2021 14:121631365851Photographer who took 9/11 images seen around the world returns to ground zero

Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton returned to Ground Zero 20 years after being at the scene within minutes after the towers fell.

“Everyone was running in the opposite direction saying we were under attack,” Mr Stapleton said in a Reuters video on Friday. “I hate seeing helicopters around here because that always makes me think about that day,” he said as he walked the streets in Lower Manhattan.

Gustaf Kilander11 September 2021 14:1016313656199/11 anniversary: Emotional moment family member breaks down while paying tribute9/11 anniversary: Emotional moment family member breaks down while paying tributeGustaf Kilander11 September 2021 14:061631365262Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Pennsylvania along with former President George W BushGustaf Kilander11 September 2021 14:011631364911Respects being paid at Ground Zero â€" pictures

The Independent’s senior US correspondent Richard Hall is at Ground Zero today, where respects are being paid to those who died 20 years ago in the 9/11 terror attacks.

(Richard Hall) (Richard Hall)Lamiat Sabin11 September 2021 13:551631364764Ground Zero memorial marks moment first plane hit and recites names of victims

The memorial at Ground Zero just marked the moment that the first plane hit the World Trade Center at 8.46am on 11 September 2001.

The names of the victims are now being read.

(Sky News) (Sky News)Gustaf Kilander11 September 2021 13:521631364137Biden, Obama, Clintons arrive for NYC memorial ceremony

President Joe Biden, as well as former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have arrived at Ground Zero in New York City to attend the 9/11 memorial.

First lady Jill Biden and former First Lady Michelle Obama are also in attendance, as is Senate Majority Leader and New York Senator Chuck Schumer, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

(Sky News) (Sky News) (Richard Hall) (Richard Hall)Gustaf Kilander11 September 2021 13:421631364051Watch live as Biden and Obama attend Ground Zero memorial marking 20th anniversary of 9/11Watch live as Biden and Obama attend 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero

US President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama are attending a 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero to mark the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks in the US.Ceremonies are also taking place at the Pentagon, in Virginia and at a site in Shanksville Pennsylvania â€" which were the two other locations of the attacks that day.Earlier, an American flag was unfurled from the roof of the Pentagon in Arlington to mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks in which 2,996 US citizens were killed.

Cal Byrne11 September 2021 13:40

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