Controversy clouds 9/11 anniversary
Anti-Islamic centre protests in New York and pastor’s Quran burning plan cast shaddow on 9/11 attacks commemoration
This Saturday marks nine years since planes hijacked by members of al-Qaeda crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, killing more than 2,700 people.
However, this year’s September 11 commemoration comes at a time of heightened tension.
A pastor of a tiny congregation in Florida has stirred controversy with a much publicised plan to hold a Quran-burning event to mark the Saturday anniversary.
In addition, the last few months saw several protests against plans to build an Islamic centre in downtown New York, two blocks away from the World Trade Centre site.
Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.