The world today marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people and reshaped global security and international politics.
On September 11, 2001, 19 members of the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation hijacked four commercial passenger aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting prominent locations in the United States.
Two of the hijacked planes were deliberately flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.
The first aircraft struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. local time, while the second crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.
Both towers later collapsed, killing thousands of people and trapping workers, visitors and emergency responders inside the buildings.
A third hijacked aircraft was flown into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, near Washington, D.C., at 9:37 a.m.
The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 a.m. after passengers and crew members attempted to take control of the aircraft from the hijackers.
All 19 hijackers and nearly 3,000 victims died in the attacks.
The victims included civilians, airline passengers and crew members, firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other emergency workers who responded to the attacks.
The September 11 attacks triggered major changes in United States foreign and domestic policy.
The US subsequently launched military operations in Afghanistan against al-Qaeda and the Taliban government, which had provided shelter to the terrorist organisation.
The attacks also resulted in significant changes to airport security, intelligence operations and counter-terrorism measures in the United States and other countries.
Twenty-five years later, September 11 remains one of the most significant events of the 21st century.
Memorials have been established at the sites of the attacks, while the names of those who died continue to be remembered by families, survivors and communities around the world.
The attacks also remain a defining historical event for a generation that witnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center towers and the unprecedented scenes of devastation broadcast globally.
As the 25th anniversary is commemorated today, September 11 continues to be remembered for its devastating loss of life and its lasting impact on the United States and the wider world.
