The President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission paid tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks, remembering the moment when the world seemed to stop. Both António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen referenced the date on their respective social media this Friday.
António Costa emphasized that the principles of freedom, democracy, and tolerance shared by both sides of the Atlantic were targeted 25 years ago. He dedicated a message to the thousands of lives lost and to all whose lives were permanently altered, honoring the victims, their families, and the bravery of those who helped others.
Von der Leyen also highlighted the day the world stopped, exactly 25 years ago. She mentioned the 3,000 people who left their homes that morning without returning, and compared the old Twin Towers to two columns of light that now rise in the New York sky, symbolizing that light prevails even in the darkest moments.
The night before, Ursula von der Leyen had already published a statement about the 25th anniversary of 9/11, stressing the importance of alliances and unity. She stated that during that period, Europe maintained its support for the United States.
The President of the European Commission considered the attacks as 'the event with the greatest consequences of the turn of the century' and as a factor that reinforced the importance of collective security and alliances. Von der Leyen underlined that Europe immediately demonstrated its position, standing alongside America, and recalled that, for the first and only time in its history, NATO activated Article 5.
The United States celebrates the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks today, the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, which resulted in nearly three thousand deaths, including nine Portuguese and Lusophone descendants. The attacks were perpetrated by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.
Two hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, leading to the collapse of the buildings two hours after the impact. A third plane hit the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, near Washington. A fourth plane, whose target is believed to be the Capitol or the White House, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
These attacks caused profound changes in US foreign and security policy and globally, including the start of the so-called 'war on terror' and military intervention in Afghanistan.