As the world prepares for the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Monday, two victims from that fateful day have now been identified.
As reported by CNN, New York City officials have announced the identification of two more victims of the tragic events at the World Trade Center.
According to a news release from the mayor's office, these individuals - a man and a woman - are the 1,648th and 1,649th victims to be identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
What sets these identifications apart is the advanced DNA testing technology that made them possible. "The techniques used to make these identifications over two decades later include recently adopted next-generation sequencing technology — more sensitive and rapid than conventional DNA techniques — which has been used by the U.S. military to identify the remains of missing American servicemembers," the press release states.
The man was identified through DNA testing of remains recovered back in 2001. In contrast, the woman's identification involved DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2006, and 2013. Remarkably, these are the first identifications since September 2021, showcasing the ongoing efforts and technological advancements contributing to this monumental task.
At the request of the new victims' families, both of their names have been withheld.
Chief Medical Examiner Jason Graham spoke out about the sheer scale of the undertaking, saying: "The largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country. These two new identifications continue to fulfill a solemn pledge that OCME made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones."
Although these identifications mark critical milestones, the sad reality remains that about 1,100 people — roughly 40% of the victims — are still unidentified. A total of 2,753 people were reported missing in lower Manhattan post the attacks, and the work continues to match these names with the recovered remains.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the long-lasting impact of the tragedy on the victims' families. "As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones," he said.
"We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner attest to the city's unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones," Mayor Adams concluded.
As the nation prepares to honor and remember the lives lost 22 years ago, these latest identifications are more than mere statistics; they are symbols of the relentless pursuit of justice and closure in one of the most painful chapters of American history.
Our thoughts continue to go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives as a result of the attacks.
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