9/11 25th anniversary ceremony: Families gather at WTC, Pentagon, Shanksville

Ceremonies were held in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

September 11 anniversary marked by pain and unity

CeFaan Kim has more from Lower Manhattan.

David Dee Delgado/Pool Photo via AP

Last updated: Saturday, September 12, 2026 3:24AM GMT

NEW YORK -- Friday marked 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Another 9,000 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses over the last 25 years.

Victims' families, first responders and politicians gathered on Friday for annual remembrance ceremonies as Americans across the country pause to remember and reflect.

A flower placed at the memorial is seen in front of the Freedom Tower during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. — A flower placed at the memorial is seen in front of the Freedom Tower during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001.
Spencer Platt/Pool Photo via AP

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Here's how the news is developing.

Sep 11, 2026, 12:36 PM GMT

American flag unfurled at the Pentagon

In a downpour at daybreak, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top military officials stood outside and watched as the giant American flag was unfurled on the building struck by a hijacked plane a quarter century ago.

Service members unfurl a flag on the 25th anniversary over the portion of the Pentagon's west side that was struck by an airliner hijacked by terrorists, on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026

President Donald Trump is set to observe Friday's 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by attending a ceremony at the Pentagon commemorating the lives lost when al-Qaida militants hijacked planes and killed nearly 3,000 people in three locations, upending American foreign policy and national security.

It's the second year in a row for Trump to mark the day at the Pentagon.

Sep 11, 2026, 12:37 PM GMT

Trump to attend Pentagon ceremony instead of ground zero

President Donald Trump will attend the 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon in Virginia and will not be at the New York City ceremony at ground zero, according to a White House official.

Vice President JD Vance will go to Ground Zero, an official said, adding that the three ceremonies at the Pentagon, ground zero and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, will all have administration officials in attendance.

Sep 11, 2026, 11:33 AM GMT

NYC Mayor Mamdani releases video ahead of 9/11 ceremony

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend Friday's remembrance ceremony, where the names of the victims will be read, despite some victims' family members and politicians calling for him to skip the ceremony and then attend a 3 p.m. interfaith service at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church near Ground Zero.

He also released a video, calling the anniversary a "sacred obligation" to honor those "who were stolen from us" by caring for one another.

Mamdani has attended Sept. 11 ceremonies over the last week at firehouses and police precincts, and has joined volunteers to pack meals as part of a Sept. 11 day of service.

Those who have publicly called for the mayor not to attend, including former Mayor Giuliani, former Gov Pataki and former Fire Commissioner Thomas von Essen, all of whom responded on Sept. 11th, are also expected at Ground Zero for the ceremony.

Sep 11, 2026, 11:02 AM GMT

WABC-TV's Michelle Charlesworth and Nina Pineda reflect on 9/11, 25 years later

WABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor Michelle Charlesworth was the first reporter to arrive at the scene of the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago. She shared her reflections with viewers.

Michelle Charlesworth reflects on reporting from Ground Zero on Sept. 11

Fellow Eyewitness News reporter Nina Pineda arrived a short time later and described obtaining video from a man on the street with a camcorder. His video showed the first plane hitting the towers. She shared her reflections of that day.