New York marked the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with ceremonies at Ground Zero in Manhattan and solemn remembrances across the city.
Almost 3,000 people died that day when hijacked airplanes destroyed the World Trade Center towers, struck the Pentagon, and crashed in Pennsylvania.
Vice President J.D. Vance joined local officials and victims’ families in paying tribute. The city paused at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck the North Tower, with a moment of silence.
Bells across places of worship also rang to mark the anniversary.
This year’s event comes during an unusually heated political climate in New York and the country.
The mayoral race has become contentious, with a socialist Democratic candidate running against more established figures including former governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent mayor.
The anniversary also comes not long after recent political violence nationally, including the shooting death of a conservative activist.
Many observers say that the divisions around race, faith, immigration, and identity are more sharply felt than in past years.
At the memorial, family members of those who died read out the names of the victims. Commemorative events also took place at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Around the country, people volunteered in acts of service in memory of those lost.