Tag: 9/11 anniversary

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UK honours memory of 9/11 victims

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tributes to the victims who lost their lives in the attack…reports Asian Lite News.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office commemorated all those killed in the 9/11 attacks in the US 20 years ago and those who bravely rushed to help.

“Today we remember all those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the 11th September 2001. We will never forget those that died that day, and all those that put themselves in harm’s way to help others,” the foreign office said on Twitter.

Queen Elizabeth II also sent her prayers and thoughts to those affected by the tragedy.

“As we mark the 20th anniversary of the terrible attacks on 11th September 2001, my thoughts and prayers – and those of my family and the entire nation – remain with the victims, survivors and families affected, as well as the first responders and rescue workers called to duty,” the monarch said.

The Queen then added that her visit to Ground Zero in 2010 would be forever held in her memory and “reminds [her] that as we honour those from many nations, faiths and backgrounds who lost their lives, we also pay tribute to the resilience and determination of the communities who joined together to rebuild.”

On this day 20 years ago, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aeroplanes. Two of the planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York. Another plane struck the west side of the Pentagon, and yet another one crashed in Pennsylvania before reaching its presumed target. The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

On September 10, US President Joe Biden designated September 11 as Patriot and National Day of Service and Remembrance and noted that on this day, all government entities should display the US flag at half-staff.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tributes to the victims who lost their lives in the attack.

The couple listed all 2,977 names of the people killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on United Flight 93 on the homepage of their Archewell Foundation website.

The page was titled “In Memoriam” to mark the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks.

The Sussexes paid a special tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims who tragically passed away on September 11, 2001.

As per E! News, the royal couple blacked out their Archwell website and only displayed the text “In Memoriam: September 11, 2001” on its page with a list of all the names of those who lost their lives in the horrific attacks.

On a related note, Harry’s grandmother- Queen Elizabeth II also sent her prayers and thoughts to those affected by the tragedy. A special ceremony was also held in England to commemorate the day.

Early on Saturday, the Queen had the Windsor Castle guards perform the US National Anthem as dozens of people stood by and watched the performance. Afterwards, spectators took a moment of silence to pay their respects to the deceased, reported E! News. (ANI/Sputnik)

ALSO READ-FBI releases newly declassified record on 9/11 attacks

READ MORE-London Mayor Joins Charity Day To Commemorate 9/11 Victims

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London Mayor Joins Charity Day To Commemorate 9/11 Victims

(Photo - twitter@SadiqKhan)

Sadiq Khan said violent extremism remains one of the biggest threats facing many cities around the world, including London, reports Asian Lite News

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Friday joined  BGC Charity Day to raise cash for various charities ahead of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks in US that killed 2,977 people.

BGC Partners, a global financial services company, held its annual charity day on Friday to remember its 658 colleagues and the 61 Eurobrokers employees who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, the Evening Standard reported.

According to the report, all profits made on trades on Friday will go to charities including Blood Cancer UK, Help for Heroes, The Pret Foundation and Wellbeing For Women.

(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)

“Brilliant to be back on the phones for the BGC Charity Day. BGC Partners tragically lost hundreds of colleagues in the 9/11 terror attacks. To honour the memory of their colleagues – they’ve helped raise $180m in the last 20 years for charities – including the Mayor’s Fund,” Khan tweeted.

“My thoughts are with all those who lost friends and family members, and everyone who suffered life-changing injuries because of the horrific acts of terrorism on September 11 2001, Khan was quoted as saying. “Londoners stand united with our friends in America and remain determined to show the world that those who seek to destroy our way of life will never win.”

Khan, had earlier announced an additional £400,000 investment in a grassroots fund to empower communities to counter extremism, tackle the rise in hate crime offences and keep vulnerable Londoners safe from radicalisation.

(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Mayor reaffirmed his commitment to tackling violent extremism in all its forms and has made it clear that racism and hate crime have no place in the capital as London prepares to welcome more than 150 families from Afghanistan.

New City Hall investment builds on the work of the Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund, which has directly benefited 25,000 participants and reached more than 600,000 Londoners overall since it launched in 2020 – enabling community groups to deliver vital grassroots projects that tackle all forms of violent extremism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and misogyny.

(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)

Projects have taken place in every London borough, including during lockdown, and the new funding will empower grassroots organisations to continue to engage with Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to tackle a broad array of issues, from right-wing extremism, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism to extremist content online and misogyny.

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sadiq Khan said violent extremism remains one of the biggest threats facing many cities around the world, including London. 

“Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. That’s why I asked Lord Harris to complete a new independent review into what can be done to improve our city’s preparedness for a major terrorist attack, and it’s why I’m announcing that we’ll be investing an additional £400,000 to do even more to help tackle violent extremism in all its forms,” he said.

“This new investment is about empowering communities to deliver grassroots projects that not only work to prevent violent extremism and to stop vulnerable Londoners from becoming radicalised, but to tackle racism and hate crime. Since last year, the projects we’ve supported have already directly benefited 25,000 people and reached more than 600,000 altogether. This additional investment will ensure we can reach many thousands more,” he added.

ALSO READ – Sadiq launches new ‘London Refugee Response’ fund

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Terrorism failed to shake our belief in freedom: Johnson

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’s address to commemorate victims of 9/11 attacks will be played at a memorial event at the Olympic Park in east London today, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the terrorists behind attacks in the United States failed “to shake our belief in freedom and democracy.”

In a message to mark the 20th anniversary, the prime minister said that while the terror threat remained, people refused “to live in permanent fear”, the BBC reported.

“That we are coming together today – in sorrow but also in faith and resolve – demonstrates the failure of terrorism.”

Johnson
A woman mourns the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Qin Lang/IANS)

On September 11, 2001, the United States faced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. A total of 2,977 people were killed in the terror attacks. In a span of just 102 minutes, both towers of New York’s World Trade Center collapsed after planes hijacked by Al Qaeda operatives crashed into them.

In the prime minister’s address, which will be played at a memorial event at the Olympic Park in east London on Saturday, he said recent events in Afghanistan had only strengthened people’s belief in freedom and democracy.

“Twenty years ago, September 11 2001 became, in President Roosevelt’s words after Pearl Harbor, a ‘date which will live in infamy’,” the BBC quoted Johnson as saying.

“On a crystal clear morning, terrorists attacked the United States with the simple goal of killing or maiming as many human beings as possible, and by inflicting such bloodshed in the world’s greatest democracy, they tried to destroy the faith of free peoples everywhere in the open societies which terrorists despise and which we cherish.”

He said that “precisely because of the openness and tolerance of the United States” almost every nationality and religion were among those murdered that day, the report quoted Johnson.

“But while the terrorists imposed their burden of grief and suffering, and while the threat persists today, we can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they failed to shake our belief in freedom and democracy; they failed to drive our nations apart, or cause us to abandon our values, or to live in permanent fear,” he added.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, commemorated the lives of 2,977 people who lost their lives on the day twenty years ago.

“To the families of 2,977 people from more than 90 nations killed on September 11, 2001, in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania and a thousand more who were injured. America commemorates you and your loved ones,” Biden said in a video message posted on the Twitter account of the US President.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS)

He also said this tragedy highlights how even at our most vulnerable, unity is our greatest strength.

Biden also lauded forces who risked and gave their lives in and after the attacks.

“We honour the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and construction workers, doctors and nurses, faith leaders, service members, and all of the everybody people who gave their all to rescue, recover and rebuild,” he added.

Earlier, the White House informed that Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

ALSO READ – In a first, 9/11 anniversary marked without troops in Afghanistan

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-Top News USA

US govt issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary

It cited increased use of “online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.”…reports Asian Lite News.

The US Department of Homeland Security issued a new terrorism threat advisory on Friday ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks and amid a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin said the United States faces a “heightened threat environment” from both domestic terrorists “and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences.”

It cited increased use of “online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.”

The new advisory updated a January alert following the attack on the US Congress by supporters of then-president Donald Trump, when DHS said the country faced “increasingly complex and volatile” threats from anti-government and racially motivated extremists, often stirred up by online influence from abroad.

The bulletin had already been amended in May, with DHS warning violent extremists could exploit the easing of Covid-19 restrictions to conduct attacks.

“Extremists may seek to exploit the emergence of Covid-19 variants by viewing the potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks,” the DHS advisory said, adding that “pandemic-related stressors… may contribute to more violence this year.”

Despite a rapid vaccination program, coronavirus case numbers have increased sharply in recent months in the United States due to the spread of the Delta variant, prompting new health measures.

The advisory, which expires on November 11, also noted that in the lead-up to the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Yemeni branch of Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), had put out an English-language version of its propaganda “Inspire” magazine for the first time in over four years.

Al-Qaeda militant(WIKIPEDIA)

This “demonstrates that foreign terrorist organizations continue efforts to inspire US-based individuals susceptible to violent extremist influences,” DHS said.

The United States, which considers AQAP the terror group’s most dangerous branch, has carried out a campaign of drone strikes against its fighters in Yemen since soon after the 9/11 attacks.

DHS was established after 9/11 and regularly issues terrorism threat adviseries.

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