Today, most of the civilised world will remember and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 11th September 2001 terrorist attack on the New York World Trade Centre Twin Towers, the Pentagon attack in Arlington County, Virginia, and the downed domestic flight near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on that fateful morning.  A total of 2,977 people lost their lives in those attacks, not counting the 19 terrorist hijackers. Since that day, more than twice as many people have died after suffering numerous diseases related to the dust and smoke produced by the collape of the Twin Towers, and new health problems are still emerging.  The long-term effects of the people caught up in the catastrophe, and the many thousands of emergency workers and rescue volunteers who tried to help later are still becoming clear.

Taking off between 07:59 and 08:42 that bright morning, four American commercial flights were hijacked by terrorists affiliated with al Queda.  American Airlines flight 11 was used to hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.  Just as CNN was Breaking News about the 'accident', United Airlines flight 175 slammed into the South Tower, caught on camera.  It was only then, following the initial accident, it became crystal clear this was a terrorist attack.  Later, the Pentagon was hit with the American Airlines flight 77, as all passenger flights were grounded.  United Airlines flight 93 then crashed in fields near Shanksville, as passengers tried to take back control of the hijacked plane, after hearing of the three previous attacks.  It was believed that the delayed UA flight 93 was heading towards the US Capitol or the White House in Washington DC.  Sadly, none of the hijacked passengers or crew survived. 

Only fifty-six minutes after being hit, the South Tower of the WTC collapsed, sending plumes of smoke, dust and debris across the surrounding Lower Manhattan area.  St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was completely destroyed as the South Tower collaped.  Twenty-seven minutes later, the North Tower collaped in an equally dramatic fashion.  Thousands of workers and first responders were trapped inside as both towers collapsed.  Hours later, although not directly hit, Building 7 of the World Trade Centre collapsed.

Timeline of the 9/11 attack - U.S. Eastern Time Zone  

•  08:46  North Tower of WTC hit - by AA flight 11 Boeing 767               09:03  South Tower of WTC hit - by UA flight 175 Boeing 767
•  09:37  Pentagon in Virginia hit - by AA flight 77 Boeing 757               10:02   Plane crash in Shanksville - UA flight 93  Boeing 757
•  09:59  South Tower WTC2 collapses                                                  10:28   North Tower WTC1 collapses 
•  17:21  Building 7 WTC7 collapses

Work started on the World Trade Centre complex back in August 1966.  The North Tower WTC1 was completed in December 1970, with the South Tower WTC2 completed in July 1971.  Both of the 110 story towers were over 1,360 feet tall, and the tallest buildings in the world at that time.  On 26th February 1993, the North Tower survived a terrorist bombing which damaged its infrastructure.  On 11th September 2001, it was estimated that between 14,000 to 15,500 workers and visitors were inside the Twin Towers at the moment of the first impact.  Following the attack, upto 200 people fell or were forced out of the building windows by intense smoke, fire or heat, none survived.  Only 20 people were found alive or rescued from the rubble after both towers collapsed . . . 2,753 died.

A National 9/11 Memorial and Museum is now located on the former World Trade Centre complex, that includes twin reflecting pools (each an acre in size) and feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.  Prior to its opening in 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Memorial underwent a multi-year process to verify and arrange the names that would be inscribed into the Memorial's bronze parapets.  The 'Tribute in Light' is a commemorative public art installation that both honours those killed in the Twin Towers attack that tragic day and celebrates the unbreakable spirit and soul of New York and its population.

One World Trade Centre building was officially opened on 3rd November 2014.  The new tower, along with the rest of the WTC complex, replaced the Twin Towers and surrounding complex that were destroyed by the terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001.

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, relocated to Liberty Park, was eventually redesigned, reconstructed and consecrated on 4th July 2022.  The church was fully opened for services on 6th December 2022, the Feast of Saint Nicholas.

The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with memorial ceremonies in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  At the National 9/11 Memorial in New York, family members of the victims read out the names of the more than 2,750 people that died in the city that day.  Seven bells were rung this year, followed by a moment of silence, four to commemorate the exact times that each of the four planes crashed, two to mark the exact times that the Twin Towers fell, and one (new this year) to honour those who have died of 9/11 related illnesses since.  In a ceremony to honour the 184 people killed when American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, President Trump said "We will never, ever forget".  Later that morning, a memorial was held in Shanksville, where hijacked UA flight 93 crashed into a field after 40 passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the plane.