New York has honoured the victims of 9/11 by recreating the Twin Towers using 2,977 light-up drones.
The drone show over New York’s harbour on Wednesday night formed the outline of the towers, with one for each person who died in the attacks.
Titled 2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor, the display was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, when al-Qaeda terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers.
Footage of the drone display showed the lights decorating the sky over the Hudson River in a moving constellation before forming the outline of the towers.
The memorial was developed in collaboration with survivors, victims’ family members and first responders to 9/11.
Brenda Berkman, a New York City Fire Department first responder, Terry Strada, president of 9/11 Families United and family members of Tom Strada and Stephen Siller, who were both killed in the attacks, were all involved in the organisation.
The display joined the long-running Tribute in Light art installation, which included 88 vertical searchlights arranged in two columns to represent the towers.
Tribute in Light began as a temporary commemoration of 9/11 in 2002, but it became an annual event by the Municipal Art Society of New York.
The drone light show was developed in collaboration with survivors and victims’ family members – 2977 Lights Over New York Harbor
Nineteen Islamic terrorists hijacked four airliners in 2001, flying two into the Twin Towers, and another into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed into a Pennsylvanian field after a passenger revolt.
Zohran Mamdani is due to attend the city’s memorial event on Friday as the city’s first Muslim mayor.
The socialist Mayor has faced criticism from several family members of victims and Republicans who asked him to stay away.
Mr Mamdani has also been criticised over his appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief legal counsel. The lawyer represented a convicted al-Qaeda member whose brother-in-law carried out the September 11 attacks.
Responding to the criticism, Mr Mamdani said: “I’m proud to be the Mayor of this city. I love this city. I love this country.
“And what I want this week to be a focus on is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th, and a focus also on the first responders who gave everything they could to this city and to the people who came together to try and help their fellow New Yorkers.”
Donald Trump will not attend the Manhattan event, it is understood. The New York Times reported that he wanted to deliver a speech, but organisers did not allow political speeches.
Mr Trump will instead commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon. JD Vance, the vice-president, will represent the White House in New York.