Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City has disclosed a substantial collection of documents revealing information regarding the toxic smoke produced by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC). This release coincides with the upcoming 25th anniversary of the tragic events where Al Qaeda operatives hijacked planes, targeting the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
The recently made public archive comprises over 170,000 pages, indicating that previous city administrations did not fully communicate what they knew about the hazardous air quality following the collapse of the Twin Towers. The mayor highlighted that these documents illustrate the city’s awareness of the toxic environment surrounding Ground Zero, the timing of their knowledge, and their efforts to limit legal responsibility.
As a result of the attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 individuals, more than 9,400 people have succumbed to illnesses attributed to exposure in the vicinity, as reported by a federal medical monitoring initiative. Mayor Mamdani emphasized that the released documents encompass critical insights into health risks, air quality, and the city’s response to the aftermath of the attacks.
This release is part of a legal settlement with 9/11 Health Watch, an advocacy group for victims that sought to compel the city to make these documents accessible to the public. The group’s director, Benjamin Chevat, remarked that for 25 years, multiple mayoral administrations have withheld vital information from the public, the U.S. Congress, and the City Council regarding the dangers posed by toxic substances in Lower Manhattan and Western Brooklyn following the WTC collapse, all while assuring residents that the air quality was “safe and acceptable.”
When questioned about which officials had kept this information from the public, Mayor Mamdani stated that the accountability spans across several trusted figures in New York. Rudy Giuliani was the mayor during the time of the attacks.
In recent discussions, some politicians, including Giuliani, along with relatives of September 11 victims, have suggested that Mayor Mamdani should refrain from attending this year’s memorial event. However, other family members have rallied behind the mayor, who confirmed his intention to participate despite the backlash.
