Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that the UK and the US “stand together” in the war against terror, as he issued a warning on the 9/11 anniversary.
As the world remembers the terrorist attacks 25 years on, Burnham warned that the threat of terror still looms large and forever “knocks at the door of democracy”.
The UK and America “stand together in memory of those we lost, and in defence of the values we cherish”, Burnham said.
The prime minister recalled how in the wake of terrorist outrages in Manchester during his time as mayor of the city region, messages of support had been received from across the US, including the children of those killed on 9/11.
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He said: “On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we remember the nearly 3,000 people who were killed, including 67 Britons.
“My thoughts are with all those who lost friends and family members that terrible day. Time may pass, but I know the grief is still felt just as deeply today. On this anniversary, we must remember that hatred and fear did not have the last word on 9/11.
“The terrorists sought to weaken and divide America, and everyone who believes in the values our countries share. But our response was clear: those who seek to destroy our way of life will never win.”
“I saw that same defiance in Greater Manchester. When I was mayor, Manchester was the victim of two horrific terrorist attacks. 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 continued.
“Some of the children of those killed in the 9/11 attacks wrote to the families of the people killed in Manchester, and they said this: ‘We are you and you are us. We are one.’ We will never forget these terrible events, but we refuse to be defined by them.
“Terror still knocks on the door of democracy, but the United Kingdom and the United States stand together in memory of those we lost, and in defence of the values we cherish. We are you and you are us. And we will prevail.”
Former prime minister Tony Blair, meanwhile, said that the anniversary was also a time to “commemorate the unshakeable and essential bond” between the two countries.
“I will forever remember 11th of September 2001, as a leader but also as a citizen. 9/11 was the worst terrorist attack ever perpetrated, the greatest loss of life through an attack on American soil in the history of America and the largest death toll of any act of terrorism in respect of the British people. That day changed the world and 25 years on, changes the world even now”, Tony Blair said, reflecting on the anniversary of the attacks.
Warren Stephens, US ambassador to the UK, said that the UK had rallied in support “in one of America’s darkest hours” and that “despite our disagreements and debates”, the transatlantic relationship “has kept us safe for centuries”.
The ambassador’s comments come amid strainer relations with Donald Trump’s White House, most notably over the Iran war.
The disagreements have tested the long-standing ties between the two countries.
67 British people were among the 2,977 who lost their lives 25 years ago
On 11 September 2001, 2,977 people were killed when hijackers crashed three planes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia.
The passenger jets hijacked by al Qaida terrorists struck the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, causing both to collapse, and the Pentagon outside Washington DC.
A fourth plane seized by extremists, crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania after the crew and passengers fought back with the famous line “let’s roll”.
The brave passengers prevented it from hitting another target, which was thought to be the congressional building, which houses the US legislature.
The terrorist attacks claimed the lives of victims from more than 90 nations.
The United States in response became the first and only ever country to invoke NATO’s “all for one, and one for all” collective security clause.
Britain followed with a large-scale deployment of its forces to conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq, which left hundreds of British troops dead.