18 victims of the day that shook our world

TODAY marks the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center and The Pentagon in Virginia which changed the world forever.

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

Terrorists hijacked four planes, flying one into the North Tower of the Trade Center at 8.46am, while a second hit the South Tower shortly afterwards at 9.03am.

The third plane was flown into The Pentagon, with a fourth bound for Washington DC crashing into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers.

Both 110-floor skyscraper towers of the World Trade Centre were destroyed, with the Twin Towers tragedy claiming 2,989 lives.

Among them were at least 18 Irish people - seven of which were born on the island of Ireland. In addition, some estimates reckon up to 1,000 victims had Irish-American heritage.

Tragically, two of the Irish victims had previously survived the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center.

The 9/11 atrocity was the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor in 1941 and paved the way for the US government's War on Terror.

Here we remember the Irish and Irish-Americans who died on that fateful day in the Twin Towers...

Fr Mychal Judge

The very first victim was a priest and son of Irish emigrants from Leitrim.

Franciscan friar Father Mychal Judge was serving as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department in September 2001.

On hearing of the attacks he rushed to the scene and prayed over bodies outside the towers.

Despite the danger, he then entered the North Tower lobby where he prayed for the wounded and rescuers.

At 9.59am, the South Tower collapsed in a terrifying cloud of rubble and debris that killed almost everyone inside the North Tower lobby, including the devout cleric.

It’s reported that Father Judge’ final words were: “Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!”

A photo of the priest being carried from the towers in a chair by five first responders is one of the most poignant images from the tragedy.

His death was recorded as the first official fatality, victim 0001.