Obama leads Americans in observing 14th anniversary of 9/11

In New York, police and relatives of those killed at the World Trade Centre (WTC) began the annual reading of names of victims at Ground Zero, the present site of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

At 8:46 am, precisely 14 years after American Airlines Flight 11 flown by al-Qaeda hijackers smashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre with enough sound and fury to be heard around the world, there was silence on the South Lawn of the White House.

Obama stood, head bowed, along with his wife and senior staffers including his Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and spokesman Josh Earnest. The flag atop the White House fluttered at half-staff.

When the President and First Lady emerged, they walked silently and somberly along the aisle, halting just short of the bugler off to their right as four bells tolled. Heads bowed, the President and First Lady looked down for the moment of silence, the silence pierced only by plane noises and the sounds of camera drives clicking. They then looked up and placed their hands over their hearts as the ‘Taps’ tune was played.

The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people when four hijacked airliners crashed into the WTC twin towers, the Pentagon in Washington, and in a field in Pennsylvania.

At a separate ceremony, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said “after 14 years we know that terrorists who would threaten us have learned this simple yet profound truth: no matter how long it takes, no matter where they may hide, they will not escape the long arm of justice”.

“The threat from terrorism may evolve but our determination to hold these killers accountable remains constant. As Americans, we have the will to see that justice is done. As a military, we have the capability to see that justice is done,” he said. “And because of our men and women in uniform, because we can rely on the finest fighting force the world has ever known, we know that justice will be done,” Carter said.