The US and its allies responded by invading Afghanistan, and the engagement turned into the longest war for the North American country, lasting for two decades and ending only on August 30, 2021, with a chaotic withdrawal.
Memorial events are planned to take place on Staten Island and in Manhattan. Family members of 9/11 victims will once again gather on Sunday to read aloud the names of those killed in the terrorist attack and also to remember the six killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing when another 1,042 were injured.
Look at one of history’s greatest tragedies from a bird's-eye view in photos.
*al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and bany other countries
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This photo released 17 September 2001 by the New York City Office of Emergency Management shows an aerial view looking north from southern Manhattan as smoke rises from the ruins of the World Trade Center 14 September 2001. The central Twin Towers and the surrounding smaller towers of the World Trade Center complex were destroyed in an 11 September 2001 terrorist attack.
© AFP 2023 / NYC Office Emergency Management
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Two rescue workers survey the rubble on a makeshift walkway on the ruins of what was World Trade Center Tower 2 in New York early Tuesday morning, October 2, 2001.
© AP Photo / Stephen Chernin
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This handout picture from Spot Asia in Singapore shows satellite images taken over the New York City area, 12 September 2001, showing smoke billowing from lower Manhattan following the airline hijacking attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers 11 September. The image shows the plume of smoke drifting westward and much of lower Manhattan covered in white ash and dust created from the collapse of the twin towers following the deadly attacks.
© AFP 2023 / CNES 1994-2001/Distribution Spot Image
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This photo released by the New York City Mayor's office 19 September 2001 shows the still smouldering wreckage of the World Trade Center twin towers on 18 September 2001. The twin towers were attacked by terrorists using hijacked airliners on 11 September.
© AFP 2023 / New York Mayor's Office
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Smoke continues to rise from the destroyed World Trade Center 15 September 2001 in New York. US President George W. Bush declared the United States "at war" against the "barbarians" who led terror strikes on New York and Washington, including the man he called the "prime suspect": Osama bin Laden.
© AFP 2023 / Keith Meyers/THE NEW YORK TIMES
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Rescue workers use torches in their search for survivors in the debris of the World Trade Center twin towers collapse early 12 September 2001 in New York City. Both tower of the World Trade Center collapsed after hijacked airliners collided with them 11 September.
© AFP 2023 / Marcos Townsend
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This photo released by the New York City Office of Emergency Management shows an aerial view of West Street just south of the World Trade Center, 14 September 2001.
© AFP 2023 / NYC Office Emergency Management
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Work crews lift a fire truck from the debris of the collapsed World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan on Saturday evening, Sept. 15, 2001. Hundreds of firefighters who tried to save thousands trapped in the center's two towers following a terrorist attack are missing in the rubble.
© AP Photo / Charles Krupa
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Search efforts continue where the Building 7 of the World Trade Center would be 12 September 2001 in New York.
© AFP 2023 / Timothy A. Clary
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Workers survey the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2001. The cleanup and search for victims from the Sept. 11 terrorist attack continues.
© AP Photo / LM Otero
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Smoke continues to rise from the destroyed World Trade Center 15 September 2001 in New York. US President George W. Bush declared the United States "at war" against the "barbarians" who led terror strikes on New York and Washington, including the man he called the "prime suspect": Osama bin Laden.
© AFP 2023 / Keith Meyers/THE NEW YORK TIMES
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Iron workers are silhouetted against a wall of World Trade Center's north tower as they survey the area above the wreckage Saturday, Oct. 6, 2001, in New York.
© AP Photo / Beth A. Keiser
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One of the damaged connecting pedestriann walkways of the World Trade Center complex still stands at ground zero in New York Wednesday Sept. 19, 2001. Rescue and recovery workers are in their second week of clearing debris and searching for any survivors.
© AP Photo / Cameron Bloch
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Search and rescue teams work in the rubble of the World Trade Center collapse in New York, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2001. With each passing hour, the men and women who combed the wreckage grew more frustrated, as their hopes of finding survivors dashed at every turn.
© AP Photo / Lawrence Jackson
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Fires, ash, debris and smoke fill the streets near where the World Trade Center Towers collapsed Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 in New York. Terrorists crashed two hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and brought down the twin 110-story towers Tuesday morning.
© AP Photo / Suzanne Plunkett
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Early morning light falls on the the debris and smoke of the World Trade Center twin towers collapse early 12 September, 2001 in New York City. Rescue efforts at the site are underway. Both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed after hijacked airliners collided with them 11 September.
© AFP 2023 / Marcos Townsend