TOWNS and cities across the United States held  vigils at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadly September 11 terrorist attack at the New York World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The hijacked plane attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and led to the so-called war on terror, including the illegal war in Iraq, which was falsely accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction.

Communities across the country paid tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. 

In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also held a public memorial ceremony.

New Jersey’s Monmouth County, which was home to some September 11 victims, made the date a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations.

While US President Joe Biden will attend a commemoration in Alaska, at the former site of the New York World Trade Centres, known as ground zero, vice-president Kamala Harris is due to join the ceremony on the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. 

The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims’ relatives for a reading of the names of the dead.