A New Moment of Silence – 25 Years After the Terrorist Attacks

Vilma Strömberg 

Published 23.42

They survived the terrorist attacks.

But fell victim to the toxic dust.

Now, they are being honored with a dedicated moment of silence.

On Friday, survivors, the victims' families, and people across the US gathered at various locations nationwide to honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Many gathered in Manhattan, New York, to attend the annual memorial ceremony held at Ground Zero, honoring the victims who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Among the attendees were all living former US presidents.

Meanwhile, current US President Donald Trump attended a memorial ceremony at the Pentagon—the headquarters of the US Department of Defense—where 184 people were killed on that fateful day in 2001.

"September 11 reminded us of the terrible power of hate," Trump said in a speech during the ceremony, adding that the US is stronger today than ever before.

A New Moment of Silence for Victims of Illness

Typically, six moments of silence are observed at various times during the anniversary of the attacks.

Each moment of silence marks the exact time of some of the most pivotal events from that Tuesday 25 years ago: when the two hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, when the other two planes crashed, and when both towers collapsed.

However, a seventh moment of silence has been added this year. The new moment of silence is intended to honor the thousands of people who have suffered from or died of illnesses linked to the September 11 attacks, CNN reports.

This includes individuals who were exposed to and inhaled the toxic dust spread by the collapse of the Twin Towers and who subsequently died of cancer or developed other illnesses.

Documents reveal: Knowledge that the air was hazardous

On Tuesday, New York released more than 170,000 previously undisclosed documents showing that city officials at the time misled the public regarding air quality around Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks, CNN reports.

According to the documents, officials knew the air posed health risks, even as the public was repeatedly assured that it was safe to breathe.

"Now, nearly 25 years later, more people have died from 9/11-related illnesses than were killed on the day itself," New York official Zohran Mamdani said during a press conference on Tuesday, CNN reports.

The new moment of silence will henceforth be a permanent part of the annual ceremony, CBS News reports.