People gather at the site of destroyed World Trade Center for the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan, New York, the United States, September 11, 2008. New Yorkers on Thursday morning gathered to commemorate the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 2,700 people seven years ago. [Hou Jun/Xinhua]

New Yorkers gathered on Thursday morning in a somber ceremony near Ground Zero, site of the destroyed World Trade Center's twin towers in the September 11 terrorist strikes, to remember the more than 2,700 people who were killed in the attacks seven years ago.

US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, New York State Governor David A. Paterson, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, former New York Governor George E. Pataki and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani attended the ceremony, together with thousands of people, including relatives of victims, firefighters, policemen, officials, journalists and people in other walks of life.

The ceremony began at 8:40 a.m. After Young People's chorus of New York performed the American national anthem, the Star Spanned Banner, Bloomberg introduced moment of silence.

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg speaks during a commemoration rally at the site of destroyed World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, the United States, September 11, 2008. New Yorkers on Thursday morning gathered to commemorate the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 2,700 people seven years ago. [Hou Jun/Xinhua]

Commemorating the almost 2,750 people who died when hijacked airliners struck and demolished New York's two World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, Bloomberg said the day will "live for ever in our hearts and our history."

The anniversary, he said, was about "New Yorkers, Americans and global citizens remembering the innocent people from 95 nations and territories that lost their lives that day."