Chief Officer Martin Blunden said: "Today, 11th September 2021, we mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan, New York City which was destroyed after being struck by two commercial airliners.

The North Tower of the World Trade Centre was hit at 12:46hrs GMT and collapsed at 15:28 and the South Tower was hit at 14:03hrs and collapsed at 14:59. The resulting debris severely damaged or destroyed more than a dozen other adjacent and nearby structures, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Seven World Trade Centre, a separate building, at 22.21 GMT.

A total of 2,763 people were killed in the crashes, fires, and subsequent collapses, including 2,192 civilians, 343 firefighters, and 71 law enforcement officers as well as all the passengers and crew on the airplanes, which included 147 civilians and the ten hijackers.

This was the darkest day for the global emergency service family and twenty years later, we continue to remember all those who were killed on that day, especially the 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers who did not return home from duty.

Tragically the Fire Department New York confirmed last September that a further 227 firefighters are known to have died since as a result of contaminants exposure during the response and recovery period.

Today is the starkest of reminders of the discipline, bravery and self-sacrifice of those who continue to protect their communities from the greatest of risks.