16 years ago today, the American people were stunned when the United States experienced a series of attacks spearheaded by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda that left over 3,000 dead and more than 6,000 wounded.

The U.S. commemorates 16th year of 9/11 attacks

According to reports at the time, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hi-jacked four U.S. commercial planes and crashed them into the North and South towers of World Trade Center complex in New York City. Both 110-story buildings collapsed in less than an hour of each other which resulted in significant damage to other structures in the complex.

One of the hi-jacked planes crashed into the Pentagon and partially damaged the headquarters' western side. The September 11 attack is considered the deadliest foreign attack ever to have been made on U.S. soil. It exceeded the number of casualties sustained during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor that took the lives of more than 2,400 people.

The September 11 tragedy was a traumatic experience to most, if not all, Americans who witnessed it and who will always remember the deadly attack. According to The New York Times, at least 10,000 people showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the terrorist attack.

Some of them suffered from sleep disorders and feelings of helplessness while others have re-experienced trauma through recollection of the event.

Americans send their prayers to 9/11 victims, bereaved families

Chris Hopewell recalled what he witnessed from the balcony of his Williamsburg apartment on the day of the 9/11 attacks. "The second plane came in and that was captured and that was horrific," he told ABC in an interview. "It's very hard to describe because it's like falling off a building or something.

Your stomach gives way."

The Australian artist was able to capture the horrific incident with his camera and uploaded it on social media. His video has become one of the most-watched videos of the 9/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, people from the internet extended their condolences to the bereaved families of those who were killed during the terrorist attacks.

The Online Community even trended the hashtags #NeverForget911, #September11, and #Remember911 on Twitter to commemorate the tragic incident.

Most of them consider September 11 to be a day that will never be forgotten, while others honored those who served and sacrificed their lives to save other people.
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