Channel 4 is airing a two-part documentary titled 9/11: Days That Shocked The World tonight (September 2), just days before the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in 2001. The programme features rescue workers, survivors and witnesses who describe how a regular morning turned into an unimaginable nightmare.
A tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people
The co-ordinated attack saw four passenger aircraft hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists in the United States. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, another struck the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after resistance from passengers on board.
The tragedy killed nearly 3,000 people and remains one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history. The day is remembered every year across America and worldwide, with memorial services expected to take place next Friday (September 11). The ceremonies honour those who lost their lives as well as service workers such as firemen and police officers who worked to save lives.
What viewers can expect
Part one of the documentary airs at 10pm, closely followed by the second episode. A synopsis states: "9/11 remains one of the most shocking events in world history." The second part's description adds: "As the world watched on in horror, New York's Twin Towers collapsed and the Pentagon burned. But many tales of heroism emerged. Witnesses tell their stories."
Each episode is an hour long, meaning the broadcast ends at midnight. Those who cannot watch live can stream it on Channel 4's on-demand service from Thursday morning (September 3).
Part of a historical series
The documentary joins the broadcaster's "Days That Shocked The World" series, which has already covered the Chernobyl disaster and the Fukushima tsunami of 2011. The most recent episode, Concorde Crash, focuses on the Concorde that crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris in 2000. All of these documentaries are available to stream.
