U.S. marks 10 years since 9/11 attacks

The U.S. will mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sunday. Security is tight following warnings of a possible al-Qaeda attack. U.S. marks 10 years since 9/11 attacks The U.S. embassy in Afghanistan has begun the ceremonies, with events due later in the sites where four hijacked planes struck, killing nearly 3,000 people. An official memorial to those who died is to be unveiled at the site of the World Trade Center, whose twin towers were destroyed in the attacks. Metal barriers have been erected on roads near the World Trade Center, while police in New York and Washington are stopping and searching large vehicles entering bridges and tunnels. The CIA received a warning last week that al-Qaeda may have sent attackers, some of them possibly U.S. citizens, to bomb one of the cities. There will be pauses for silence at the exact times when two airliners smashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, the third was crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth was forced into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by passengers who fought with the hijackers. New York's National September 11 Memorial, to be unveiled later on Sunday, features two reflecting pools, each almost an acre in size, in the footprints of twin towers. The names of those who died on 9/11, as well as the six people killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, are inscribed on the edge of the pools. In the Afghan capital, Kabul, the U.S. flag was lowered to half-mast to remember those who died 10 years ago, as well as those who have died since. U.S. forces were sent to Afghanistan to oust the Taliban from power after they had given sanctuary to al-Qaeda. U.S. President Barack Obama is due to travel to all three sites for the commemorations, part of a weekend of events to mark the anniversary. Speaking on Saturday, he said the U.S. was stronger 10 years on from the attacks. "As a resilient nation, we will carry on," he told Americans in his weekly address. "Thanks to the tireless efforts of our military personnel and our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security professionals, there should be no doubt: today, America is stronger and al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat," Obama said. "Yes we face a determined foe, and make no mistake - they will keep trying to hit us again. But as we are showing again this weekend, we remain vigilant," he added. Obama will be joined in New York by George W. Bush, who was president at the time of the attacks. Speaking in Shanksville on Saturday at the unveiling of a memorial to the 40 victims of flight United 93, Bush said "the U.S. will never forget". He lauded the passengers and crew of the flight, saying they launched "the first counter-offensive in the war on terror". In an interview with National Geographic he said the events of that day had changed his presidency dramatically. "I went from being a president that was primarily focused on domestic issues, to a wartime president. Something I never anticipated nor something I ever wanted to be." Also on Saturday, firefighters from around the world attended a memorial service in New York's St Patrick's Cathedral to honor the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11 while rescuing people from the World Trade Center towers. The attack on the World Trade Center (Beta, file)

U.S. marks 10 years since 9/11 attacks

The U.S. embassy in Afghanistan has begun the ceremonies, with events due later in the sites where four hijacked planes struck, killing nearly 3,000 people.

An official memorial to those who died is to be unveiled at the site of the World Trade Center, whose twin towers were destroyed in the attacks.

Metal barriers have been erected on roads near the World Trade Center, while police in New York and Washington are stopping and searching large vehicles entering bridges and tunnels.

The CIA received a warning last week that al-Qaeda may have sent attackers, some of them possibly U.S. citizens, to bomb one of the cities.

There will be pauses for silence at the exact times when two airliners smashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, the third was crashed into the Pentagon and the fourth was forced into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by passengers who fought with the hijackers.

New York's National September 11 Memorial, to be unveiled later on Sunday, features two reflecting pools, each almost an acre in size, in the footprints of twin towers.

The names of those who died on 9/11, as well as the six people killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, are inscribed on the edge of the pools.

In the Afghan capital, Kabul, the U.S. flag was lowered to half-mast to remember those who died 10 years ago, as well as those who have died since.

U.S. forces were sent to Afghanistan to oust the Taliban from power after they had given sanctuary to al-Qaeda.

U.S. President Barack Obama is due to travel to all three sites for the commemorations, part of a weekend of events to mark the anniversary.

Speaking on Saturday, he said the U.S. was stronger 10 years on from the attacks. "As a resilient nation, we will carry on," he told Americans in his weekly address.

"Thanks to the tireless efforts of our military personnel and our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security professionals, there should be no doubt: today, America is stronger and al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat," Obama said.

"Yes we face a determined foe, and make no mistake - they will keep trying to hit us again. But as we are showing again this weekend, we remain vigilant," he added.

Obama will be joined in New York by George W. Bush, who was president at the time of the attacks.

Speaking in Shanksville on Saturday at the unveiling of a memorial to the 40 victims of flight United 93, Bush said "the U.S. will never forget".

He lauded the passengers and crew of the flight, saying they launched "the first counter-offensive in the war on terror".

In an interview with National Geographic he said the events of that day had changed his presidency dramatically.

"I went from being a president that was primarily focused on domestic issues, to a wartime president. Something I never anticipated nor something I ever wanted to be."

Also on Saturday, firefighters from around the world attended a memorial service in New York's St Patrick's Cathedral to honor the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11 while rescuing people from the World Trade Center towers.