US marks 25 years since September 11 attacks

The United States commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on Friday with ceremonies in New York and at the Pentagon.

President Donald Trump paid his respects at the Pentagon rather than at the Ground Zero ceremony in lower Manhattan, where most of the 2,977 victims were killed when hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center.

Vice President JD Vance and former presidents George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended the New York ceremony. The annual event included the reading of victims' names and bells marking key moments in the attacks.

Some relatives of victims used the ceremony to criticise Saudi Arabia and US leaders' relationship with the kingdom. Terry Strada, whose husband Tom Strada died in the Twin Towers, accused Saudi Arabia of involvement in the attacks and said successive US administrations had failed 9/11 families.

The September 11 attacks were carried out by 19 Al-Qaeda operatives who hijacked four airliners. Two planes hit the World Trade Center, one struck the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought back.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the Ground Zero event despite a campaign urging him to stay away. A small anti-Islam protest gathered at City Hall and marched toward Ground Zero, accompanied by police and counter-protesters.

The CIA also declassified and published dozens of 9/11-related presidential intelligence briefs to coincide with the anniversary.