RELATIVES of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks will remember their loved ones on both sides of the Atlantic today.
While friends and family of some of the British victims of the atrocity travel to New York to be at the site of the World Trade Center ahead of today's commemorations, others will be remaining at home.
Of the 2,973 people killed five years ago when terrorists hijacked aircraft and caused horrific destruction by flying them into New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 67 were British.
However, in keeping with families' wishes, the British government has not organised any official commemorations.
Churches in the City of London are holding ceremonies for workers - many of whom had colleagues based in the towers - and a number of companies are donating their day's takings to charities.
Ceremony
Among those making the journey to the US for today's anniversary ceremonies are Prince Andrew, choristers from Windsor Castle and around 120 British police officers.
The police group, which includes two chief superintendents, will form part of the honour guard at a remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero to mourn the 60 NYPD and Port Authority officers who died on 9/11.
Later, 67 of the British officers will provide an honour guard at a service at the British Memorial Garden, their number representing the Britons killed in the terrorist attack.
At the main commemorations at Ground Zero, 200 spouses and partners of victims will read the names of all those who died at the World Trade Center.
Around America, places of worship will ring their bells at exactly 8.46am (1.46pm UK time) - the time the first plane crashed into the North Tower.
Around 25 relatives of British victims are expected to attend a commemoration at the British Memorial Garden in New York just half a mile from the World Trade Center site.
Prince Andrew will speak briefly and will meet victims' families who have flown out.
The hour-long memorial ceremony will feature music from the choir of Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel and the West Yorkshire Police brass band.
Comments
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Absolutely terrible thing but why are we now giving these terrorists all this air time, please remember in your own way but every year we bring it up and these killers must be rubbing there hands with joy that they are being remembered on all the worlds TV stations. Only last week I saw an item on the news about a new video about Osama bin Laden why give this man any mention, while I understand that he wont go away most terrorisom is 90% publiserty so don¿¿<sup>TM</sup>t give them any.
I couldn't agree more with Terry. Terrorists are given far too much air time - the sooner Bush and Blair are carted off to the Hague and tried for their part in the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan and the slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians the better. They are the real terrorists.
In west, the war on terror has been institutionalized, like the war on poverty, or cancer: something for politicians to talk about while the rest of us go about our business. The very abstraction of the term ¿¿" why not call it a "war on violence" or a "war on hatred"?
As some journalist commented recently "They must be rolling about their caves"
I agree in part with Tim McCardle of Manchester.
9/11 was the most vile of crimes. However the americans have butchered their way around the world since 1945 with little or no protest from other western democracies. 2.5 milliion
Vietnamese & many more in other south east asia & asian countries, millions in south america & now the middle east.
No doubt they will return Cuba to mafia control after Castro dies. Of course it will be in the name of democracy & the 'good 'ol american way'.
American foreign policy stinks & always has.
I am pro western & christain but I am disgusted & alarmed by these american bullies & I ask myself how much more upset are people of the muslim faith likely to be?