HispanicBusiness

The names of the nearly 3,000 people killed on September 11, 2001, were being read Tuesday at a new World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, as the United States marked the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Officials and selected family members of the dead gathered at the site, once known as Ground Zero because of the massive destruction caused by the attacks.

The Day of Remembrance began with the US flag being raised at the 16-acre site destroyed by the attacks, followed by the sounds of drums and bagpipes playing.

A minute of silence was held at 8:46 am, the time when the first of four planes hijacked by terrorists struck the North Tower of the 110-storey World Trade Center.

None of the elected officials present at the ceremony was allowed to give speeches in order to leave politics out of the solemn occasion.

In Washington, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama held a minute of silence on the South Lawn of the White House, with members of the cabinet and Congress looking on.