Australian families recount losses after the September 11 attacks in the US
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States, Australian families who lost loved ones spoke about the consequences of the tragedy for their lives. During the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed, including 10 Australians, ABC News Australia reports.
Paul Giulavari lost his twin brother Peter, who worked as an architect in the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. In the first hours after the attack, the family could not contact him, and three days later learned that he had been in the office and was missing. Peter Giulavari's body was found 10 weeks later, on the eve of Thanksgiving.
Two pairs of twin brothers
Architect Andrew Knox worked in the complex's North Tower. He was the twin brother of Australian teacher Stuart Knox. Andrew was on the 103rd floor. After the first plane struck, he and his colleagues went up to the roof, where they found themselves in thick black smoke.
Eight days later, Stuart Knox read journalists an email from his brother's supervisor describing Andrew's final minutes. According to Stuart, he agreed to speak on the advice of the Australian Labor Party, which believed this would reduce media pressure, but press attention only intensified.
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In the following years, Stuart Knox and Paul Giulavari met in New York and visited together the site where the World Trade Center towers had stood. Stuart Knox also took part in marches against the war on terror, noting that wars take the lives of innocent people.
Awaiting trial
Simon Kennedy lost his mother, Yvonne Kennedy, who was a passenger on the American Airlines plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Several years ago, he visited the Guantanamo detention camp and saw Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He was charged with 2,977 counts of first-degree intentional murder as the principal organizer of the attacks.
Kennedy said he felt no hatred toward the accused and did not seek revenge for his mother's death. After Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011, he publicly called for calm and respect, including because of attitudes toward Muslims in Australia. Last month, a military judge set the start of the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants for June 5, 2028.
