00:00In the United States, September 11th marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001
00:05attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people while thousands more have faced lasting
00:09health consequences from exposure to toxic dust at ground zero. From New York
00:14City, our correspondent, Henry Camalo, with details.
00:21Hello, greetings to you and the Telesur audience. The year today remembers one of the
00:26most painful chapters in the story. It has been exactly 25 years since the
00:31terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, when two hijacked planes struck the
00:36Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, bringing them down. In the Lower Manhattan,
00:42victims, families, survivors, first responders, and public officials are
00:46gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day. As in years past, the
00:52names of the victims are read aloud, puntuated by moments of silence, making
00:57the exact times of the attacks and collapses. But this 25th anniversary
01:02carries additional weight. For the first time, the ceremony includes a moment of
01:07silence for those who died in the years since from illnesses related to exposure
01:12to toxic dust. In the recent days, attention has also focused on the release
01:17of some 170,000 pages of documents by the administration of Zoran Mandami. Those
01:24records showed that officials were aware of serious concerns about air quality in
01:29the area. Advestis was found in almost every location inspected. Yet many workers,
01:35first responders, and residents returned to the area with the understanding that the air
01:40was safe. 25 years later, tens of thousands have been diagnosed with cancer and
01:46respiratory illnesses. The release of these documents once again raises questions about
01:52what was known behind closed doors, when it was known, and why stronger warnings were not issued to
01:59the public. Security is tied across the area with a strong presence of local and federal authorities.
02:05Vice President Jay DeBenz is taking part in today's commemoration in New York,
02:10while President Donald Trump is leading appearances at the Pentagon. The September 11th
02:16attacks changed the United States and the world forever. They transformed airport security,
02:22expanded the national security apparatus, and led to wars abroad. But here where the Twin Towers
02:29once stood, the meaning is deeply personal. 25 years on, New York remembers not only those who died
02:36that day, but also those who continue to suffer from its aspect mark. Reporting from Lower Manhattan,
02:44I'm Henry Camello. Back to you in the studio.
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