US President Joe Biden calls for unity on 9/11 attack anniversary

On the eve of the anniversary, Biden said, "20 years after September 11, 2001, we commemorate the 2,977 lives we lost and honor those who risked and gave their lives. As we saw in the days that followed, unity is our greatest strength. It’s what makes us who we are — and we can’t forget that."

The commemoration event is due to be held Saturday.

Stressing on the US' "greatest strength" in keeping the country united even after American Muslims faced violence following the attack, Biden said as quoted by BBC, "We learned that unity is the one thing that must never break."

On Sept 11, 2001, two US passenger jets, which were hijacked by suicide attackers, were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York.

A third jet, which was also hijacked, was flown into the Pentagon outside the US capital, Washington D.C., while another crashed on a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers revolted.

The attack, which was carried out by al-Qaeda from Afghanistan, killed 2,977 people.

The 9/11 anniversary gained significance this year as Afghanistan once again fell into the hands of insurgent group Taliban after the American troops were withdrawn from the war-torn country by the Biden administration in August.

On the anniversary, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the attacks in the United States failed "to shake our belief in freedom and democracy", BBC reported.

Among 2,977 victims of the attack, 67 were Britons.

In remembrance, 67 candles will be lit at Grosvenor Square in central London Saturday.