New York is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with a solemn ceremony at the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan.

The event takes place on Friday as the city remembers the nearly 3,000 people killed that day.

President Donald Trump will pay his respects at the Pentagon rather than in New York. Vice President JD Vance and four former presidents — George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — are expected to attend the memorial at the World Trade Center site.

No speeches will be delivered during the ceremony. Instead, bereaved family members will read out the names of those killed, while a bell will be rung to mark key moments of the attack. Large crowds are expected, with tight security measures in place around the memorial site.

New York’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is also due to attend despite calls from some quarters for him to stay away. Supporters have defended his presence, while the mayor has recently released documents highlighting the long-term health impact of toxic air in the area after the towers collapsed.

The attacks involved four hijacked planes, two of which destroyed the Twin Towers. Beyond those killed on the day, thousands more have since died from related illnesses. Memorials and public discussions continue to serve as a reminder of the tragedy and the need to prevent similar events in the future.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper