The world has changed after the horrific 9/11 attacks and so has America!
Almost two decades ago Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes to attack the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.
The 9/11 attacks still remain to be the deadliest strike by terrorists on US soil. The gruesome attack prompted the then-US President George W. Bush to rush troops to Afghanistan to hunt down the responsible Al-Qaeda militants which were sheltered by the hardline Islamic militant group Taliban.
The twenty-year-old long war ended on August 31, 2021, when America's C-17s flew into the night from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport just before the clock struck midnight in Afghanistan, giving full control of the war-torn nation back to Taliban.
On the 19th anniversary of the deadly 9/11 attacks that rocked America, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit all three sites where the attacks took place. ABP LIVE brings to you recent pictures of these sites.
World Trade Centre Towers
Located at the southwestern tip of Manhattan in New York City, World Trade Center in New York City was the site of the deadliest attack. Until the 2001 attack, it was notable for its huge twin towers, each of which had 110 stories.
Hijackers in two commercial airliners crashed into the towers, the first striking the north tower and the second hitting the south tower, badly damaging the north tower which felt about half an hour after the attack.
Following the attacks, several plans to rebuild the World Trade Centre were made. The final design that was implemented included five skyscrapers, alongside a memorial, museum transport hub and performing arts centre.
The Pentagon
American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon building in northern Virginia at 9.37 am on September 11. According to reports, the US Department of Defense will organise a ceremony on Saturday morning to honor the victims of the attacks there.
The Pentagon Memorial, located just southwest of The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia has been a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 people who died in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11 attacks.
Each of the victims at the Pentagon Memorial is honored with a memorial unit that includes a cantilevered bench, a lighted pool of flowing water and a permanent tribute by name. Every memorial bench is made of stainless steel, inlaid with granite.
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a nearby coalfield in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 40 passengers and crew died in the crash, along with the four Al-Qaida terrorists who hijacked the plane.
A private observance for the family members and guests to honor the victims of the attack will be held at the National Memorial site near Shanksville. Names of all the 40 victims will be read as Bells of Remembrance will be rung.