It’s been 20 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people, and prompted the American-led invasion of Afghanistan against the Taliban regime hosting the plotter of the attacks: al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden,  who was later killed by US Navy SEALS during a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. While millions of people worldwide watched the deadliest of terror attacks against America unfold live on television, hundreds of thousands of people witnessed the attacks firsthand with many capturing the events on video cameras.

ALSO READ: Andrew Card, the man whose 11 words to Bush changed America’s future

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks, people on social media are recalling where they or their family members were as al Qaeda attacked World Trade Center in New York City and Pentagon in Washington, DC, with planes its members had hijacked. A fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Some said they were too young to form any memories of the attacks and got to know about them from their parents later on.

ALSO READ: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was found because his family hung their clothes out to dry

Others took some time to realize what had actually happened due to rumours surrounding the chaotic events of that day, and the trauma and fear that changed them for life.

Also Read: One hoax after another: 9/11 conspiracy theories through two decades

People also remembered their parents who had taken part in the 9/11 rescue operations, such as firefighters, 343 of whom including a chaplain and two paramedics of the New York City Fire Department were killed, who worked at ground zero.

Many social media users also remembered the people who were killed or survived the 9/11 attacks.

US President Joe Biden urged Americans to show unity, “our greatest strength,” in a video message on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

“To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11th. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength,” Biden said.