9/11 toll mounts after 22 years: Identification of two more victims

More than two decades after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the New York City Chief Medical Examiner announced on Friday that the identities of two individuals who perished in the World Trade Center have finally been confirmed. This significant development marks the most recent success in an ongoing, decades-long endeavor to reunite victims with their grieving families.

At the request of their respective families, the names of these two victims—a man and a woman—have been kept confidential. They represent the 1,648th and 1,649th individuals whose remains have been identified since the fateful day in 2001.

Dr. Graham, the Chief Medical Examiner, remarked, "More than 20 years after the tragedy, these two new identifications continue to uphold a solemn commitment that the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones. Confronted with the most extensive and intricate forensic investigation in our country's history, we remain resolute in our mission to utilize the latest scientific advancements to fulfill this pledge."

This recent revelation comes just ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack masterminded by al-Qaida terrorists, in which they hijacked commercial airplanes and deliberately crashed them into the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan. This horrific event resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 3,000 lives.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed, "As we prepare to commemorate the September 11 anniversary, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that fateful morning and their families, who continue to bear the daily pain of missing their loved ones. We hope that these new identifications can offer some solace to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner affirm the city's unwavering commitment to reuniting all World Trade Center victims with their families."