20 years on, time stands still as New York pays tribute to 9/11 victims

20 years ago, the world watched in horror as New York came to a standstill after a plane hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists flew into the World Trade Centre, killing 2,997 and injuring several thousand. 20 years on, time still seems to stop as the city unites to remember one of the world's deadliest terror attacks. Here's a look at New York on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Whether to take a picture or to remember their loved ones, Ground Zero, which is the site of the old World Trade Centre, continues to serve as a reminder of 9/11 | Credit: AFP Photo

Seen here is a flag of the United States covering the facade of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 | Credit: Reuters Photo

A boatlift is part of one of the many traditions followed since 2002 to commemorate the September 11, 2001 attacks | Credit: Reuters Photo

Pilots and airline workers from both United and American Airlines participated in a wreath laying ceremony for their colleagues who were killed on September 11 at the September 11th Memorial in New York City | Credit: AFP Photo

A member of a New York Police band observed a moment of silence during a ceremony to honour the police officers killed in the 9/11 terror attack | Credit: AFP Photo

Traders in the new York Stock Exchange, too, paused for a moment to commerate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 | Credit: Reuters Photo