Today, exactly 10 years ago, is a day billions of people around the world will never forget.
On September 11, 2001, more than 3,000 people died when four airplane suicide attacks hit the United States. Primary targets were the two towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City and the U.S. Pentagon.
As we commemorate today the 10th anniversary of the said attacks, we relive the memories below in the 10 moving and very powerful images of the 9/11 terror attack in the World Trade Center.
Pic #1: New York City under attack
A photographer for the New York Times managed to capture this image of the second plane (United Airlines Flight 175) seconds before it struck the South Tower. A few minutes ago, another plane (American Airlines Flight 11) has hit the North Tower.
Pic #2: Second plane hits the South Tower
The WTC South Tower explodes in flames after being hit by the second plane.
Pic #3: Last minutes on Earth
Dozens of people crane their heads out the windows of the World Trade Center while their building floors are in flames. More than 200 people are said to have fallen or jumped to their deaths as they tried to escape the burning buildings.
Pic #4: The Falling Man
Now a recognized symbol of the September 11 terror attack, this picture aptly titled The Falling Man was photographed by Richard Drew of the Associated Press. The man, whose identity remains uncertain until today, is one of hundreds said to have jumped or fallen to their deaths as they tried to escape the burning flames of the two towers. Although unconfirmed, the “falling man” is believed to be Jonathan Briley, an employee of the “Windows on the World” restaurant located at the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower.
Pic #5: New York crowd in disbelief
A crowd in Lower Manhattan watch in awe and disbelief as the two World Trade Center towers burn in flames minutes before their eventual collapse.
Pic #6: Fleeing from the inferno
Thousands of New Yorkers scramble in panic as they run away from the smoke, dust and debris coming from the collapsing World Trade Center building.
Pic #7: American Pieta
The first confirmed fatality of the Sept. 11 terror attacks was Father Mychal Judge, a Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. He was Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York who immediately rushed to the site upon news of the attack to offer aid and to pray for the victims. He was killed inside the North Tower when debris flew upon the the collapse of the South Tower. Shortly after his death, his body was carried out of the rubble by five men. Although other people perished ahead of him, he was considered the first official fatality of 9/11 because his was the first body recovered and sent to the coroner.
Pic #8: The North Tower collapses
This photo, taken by the New York City Police Department, shows lower Manhattan being engulfed in dust and ashes as the North Tower collapses.
Pic #9: Last man standing?
A maintenance worker holds a fire extinguisher as he calls out to the rubble, telling possible survivors to make noise so that help can come to them.
Pic #10: Hearing the bad news
Pres. George W. Bush receives news from then White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card that the United States “is under attack.” Bush was attending a book reading with elementary pupils in Sarasota County, Florida when he was first informed that two airplanes had struck the World Trade Center. Bush finished the story and sat with the children for an additional seven minutes before making a speech about the attacks in a press conference held in that school.
Photo Credits: Life.com
See also:
