Major cities in the United States were under tight security, following warnings of a possible new attack by al-Qaeda, the group behind the 2001 attacks.
At Ground Zero, venue of the celebration, tears flowed and bells tolled as Americans marked the anniversary in a rare moment of unity for a country still shaken by the horrific attacks.
President Barack Obama and his predecessor, his supposed political enemy, George W. Bush were united in the celebration, as both leaders stood together in New York for the main ceremony at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center (WTC) twin towers.
President Obama, who had called for a “heightened state of vigilance and preparedness,” during his speech at the ceremony in New York, quoted from a Bible passage in Psalm 46, which speaks of God’s refuge and strength, “a very present help in trouble.”
After his speech, Obama left to pay homage at 9/11’s other crash sites in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.
In a speech at the Pentagon, Vice-President Joe Biden commended America’s armed forces for their service and their sacrifices since the attacks.
On September 11, 2001, the first plane hit the WTC’s North Tower at 08.46 a.m. (13.46 GMT), the second at 09.03 am
“They were our neighbours, our friends, our husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children and parents,” he said of the victims.
At Ground Zero, the Stars and Stripes flew from cranes used in the massive project to rebuild the WTC, while below, relatives of the 2,977 terror victims touched the names of their loved ones inscribed in bronze around a new memorial.
The lower Manhattan, where federal officials warned of a new terrorism scare, was reportedly under police lockdown.
Story: Nigerian Tribune
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