This week marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks, one of the most significant events in recent history. The attacks happened in the United States on 11 September 2001, when a terrorist group hijacked four passenger planes.
Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third hit the Pentagon, a large government building near Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers on board bravely fought back, stopping it from reaching its target.
Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks, including office workers, plane passengers, and firefighters and police officers who rushed in to help others.
Alongside the tragedy, many ordinary people and emergency workers showed great courage, helping strangers reach safety that day. In the years since, countries around the world have changed how they handle security, especially at airports, to help keep people safe.
Special places like the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City now help people remember those who died.
How People Remember
Twenty-five years on, many people mark the anniversary with acts of kindness, such as helping out in their community or thanking local heroes like firefighters, police officers and teachers. It’s a day for reflecting on the bravery shown back then, and on the importance of treating one another with care and respect.
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