Scotland marks 25 years since 9/11 terror attacks with memorial service

Edinburgh joined cities around the world in commemorating the anniversary of the co-ordinated al-Qaeda attacks on 11 September 2001.

The service at St Giles’ Cathedral was hosted on behalf of the US Consulate General Edinburgh.

Among those in attendance were First Minister John Swinney, Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, US Consul General Kathryn Porter, as well as representatives from a range of faith groups.

Mr Swinney performed a reading of a bible passage during the service before representatives each took the opportunity to tie a ribbon to a fig tree in memory of the almost 3,000 people who died in the terror attacks 25 years ago.

A rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States, was also performed.

The service was led by the minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, Reverend Dr Scott Rennie.

Rev Dr. Scott Rennie spoke about Edinburgh’s longstanding connection to the United States, telling the Evening News: “One of the things about Edinburgh is that a huge number of people come to visit Edinburgh from the United States because their roots are here, effectively the Scots diaspora and we see that here at St Giles’ Sunday by Sunday but also through the week.

“There is a great affinity with the United States because of our cultural, family, and friendship links over all these years, from the stonemasons from Leith who built the White House to the Presbyterian Minister who was part of the Declaration of Independence. That kind of bond between Scotland and America has gone on through these years.”

He added: “We're having the service because we are in solidarity with our American family and friends and recognising the kind of sorrow and the tragedy of the events of 9/11. It’s also a way to express our continuing friendship and the bonds that bind us together, and to think about reconciliation and the kind of world that we want to live in, a peaceful world and what can we do to build that together.”

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Rev. Dr Scott Rennie also has a personal “affinity” to New York, having studied a postgraduate in theology in the city alongside fellow Scottish ministers and maintaining ongoing friendships with those who were caught up in the middle of the aftermath of the terror attacks back in 2001.

He said: “It's one of these pivotal events in world history.

“There are tragedies and there's conflict happening every day but there's something totemic about that day, because I think it changed the world and it was probably the first terrorist atrocity that was captured as it happened live to the whole world.

“It also was the first time in a very long time Americans had experienced conflict like that on their door. I think it has changed the world forever really.”