The nephew of two British 9/11 victims told the Mirror how he was just 15 when they died and said they were ‘still loved’ – 67 British people died on September 11
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 a group of loved ones, officials and activists gathered for a poignant ceremony to remember all the victims who died, including the 67 British citizens.
The intimate gathering was held next to a memorial sculpture made from steel that fell from the World Trade Center on September 11, which now stands at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Friday’s event, hosted by the UK charity Since 9/11, heard heartbreaking stories from 25 years ago but also called on the importance of keeping the 2001 tragedy in our memories.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a video address, told the ceremony that: “We will never forget these terrible events, but we refuse to be defined by them.”
The PM emphasised the strength of the bond between the UK and US 25 years on, saying: “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.”
Those touched closely by the tragedy of 9/11 were also present at the solemn anniversary ceremony, including Liam McKenna who lost his uncle and aunt.
Liam’s uncle Michael Egan, 51, had moved from Hull to the US eight years before the attack and worked at the professional services firm Aon. Michael’s sister Christine Egan, 55, had been a nurse in Canada and was visiting her brother in New York at the time.
The two Britons were on the 103rd floor and both sadly died during the attack. Liam, speaking to the Mirror, shared how he heard the heartbreaking news as a teenager and said: “I remember I was 15 years old and I had heard the news story on the radio and I heard about planes hitting a tower somewhere in America, and it all seemed very distant to me.
“I remember going down to where my parents were, and they had it on the news there and I remember distinctly my mum saying to me, ‘your uncle Mike works in that tower’. And very quickly it changed from being this distant news story to being this personal family tragedy.”
Despite living across the pond, Liam said his aunt and uncle used to visit and stayed close with the family. He said: “They always had time for the family, always had time for me as a young boy and my little brother.” Liam remembered Christine and Michael saying “I just really distinctly remember how kind they were.” He added: “They are still well loved.”
Christian Fisher was 13 years old when he survived the 7/7 Tavistock Square bombing, which was near his school. He told the Mirror that on 9/11 he was with his American friend at London Zoo whose dad was at the World Trade Center when the attack happened.
He said: “We didn’t know what was happening in terms of 9/11 but I remember him being very anxious, frightened and being completely powerless to do anything about the situation.” Christian shared that the dad survived the attack but also that he and his childhood pal are still friends 25 years on.
Christian told the Mirror: “One thing I have learnt from over the years, not just from my attack and meeting some survivors of 7/7, but survivors of many attacks including 9/11 is that grief is certainly not an exclusive emotion to have, it is a universal thing.
“There are many ways people can bond although I think shared experiences, surviving a terrorist attack, witnessing being bereaved is such a powerful way to really be understood by someone else.” Fisher helped to set up the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.
The former National Lead of counter terror policing, Neil Basu QPM, told the Mirror the world was “more dangerous” and argued that intelligence would always be put above politics.
Mr Basu said: “The world is probably more dangerous than it’s ever been, not less dangerous. That is the sobering thing here today.” He added that “America will always be our closest intelligence partner”, adding: “In terms of our operating capability together, we will always put that over and above national interest politics.”
In his speech Mr Basu said: “Our fight is to recognise our common humanity and to teach every child what that phenomenal MP Jo Cox taught us all, that we have far more in common than that which divides us, may she rest in peace. If we fail to listen to her, Bin Laden has won.”
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