London marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks with a commemoration event remembering the 67 British citizens who were among the nearly 3,000 victims.
On that day, suicide attackers hijacked four U.S. passenger jets. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, causing them to collapse. Another plane struck the Pentagon in Virginia. The fourth aircraft crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members fought back against the hijackers.
The London event featured speeches from family members of victims and a video message from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis spoke about the Jewish tradition of learning from the past for the future. "When confronted by hate, our response must be to increase our love of community, of decency, of fairness, of family," he stated.
Cellist Megan Clarke performed for the attendees, which included first responders, school children, and family members of those lost.
Liam McKenna, who lost his aunt and uncle in the attacks, attended the ceremony. He was 15 years old when the events unfolded and watched them on television. McKenna emphasized the importance of not forgetting the events of that day and ensuring future generations learn about them.
