Families of British Victims Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11
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Families of British Victims of 9/11 Mark 25th Anniversary
By Cachella Smith and Nick Johnson, reporting from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Published 11 September 2026, 13:11 BST
Updated 2 hours ago
Families of British victims of 9/11 gathered in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks in the US.
The event, hosted by UK charity Since 9/11, took place near a memorial sculpture made from steel recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center.
In a video address played to attendees, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
"On this anniversary, we must remember that hatred and fear did not have the last word on 9/11."
There were 67 British citizens among the 2,977 people murdered on 9/11.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, along with the US ambassador to the UK, attended a special Changing of the Guard ceremony, while numerous vigils were held in the US.
A memorial service was hosted at the site of the World Trade Center in New York, where relatives of the victims read out their names.
At a ceremony at the Pentagon in Virginia, President Donald Trump declared:
"The US will never, ever forget… On days like 9/11, we learn what a country is truly made of."
Prime Minister’s Address
Referencing attacks that have occurred since, including in Manchester, Burnham added:
"I will never forget the messages of support and friendship from people across America who knew better than anyone the suffering of our city."
Burnham concluded by emphasizing the importance of learning from history:
"Our response was clear: those who seek to destroy our way of life will never win. When confronted by hate, our response must be to increase our love of community, of decency, of fairness, of family."
Memorial Service at Olympic Park
Other speakers included Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who emphasized the importance of anniversaries in Jewish tradition:
"They are not so much about the past but rather what we can learn from the past for the sake of our future."
He added, "Our response must be to increase our love of community… of family."
Cellist Megan Clarke also performed for first responders, school children, family members, and others in attendance.
Personal Reflections
One attendee, Liam McKenna, lost his aunt and uncle in the attacks. He recalled watching events unfold on TV as a 15-year-old.
McKenna emphasized the importance of remembering and learning from 9/11 to ensure future generations understand its significance.
