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It has been 17 years since the devastating 9/11 attacks. Coverage of the American Airlines flight 11 tragedy during which nearly 3,000 perished was the main priority that day for most Western news agencies (the scenes of the twin towers collapsing were witnessed by an estimated two billion people - a third of the human race). Together with amateur records, this has produced such an incredible amount of 9/11 photos, some of it is rarely seen even today.

Bored Panda has collected some of the least seen 9/11 stories from across the internet. From street shots of the twin towers attack to satellite images of New York City, these historical photos are revealing new angles of the horrific day that changed the world forever. For more similar September 11 shots, check out this powerful book by David Friend.

#1

A Knot Of Bystanders At Park Row And Beekman Street Look Up As The South Tower Begins To Collapse

A Knot Of Bystanders At Park Row And Beekman Street Look Up As The South Tower Begins To Collapse

Patrick Witty Report

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sanchit-mit2006 avatar
EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most expressive pic of all pics. No matter your color, caste, religion, when such in-human and horrifying thing occurs, we all weep and bleed same color.

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#2

At Rector Street And Broadway, A Photographer Leaned Out His Window With A Medium-format Camera And Caught The Moment Before The Second Plane’s Impact

At Rector Street And Broadway, A Photographer Leaned Out His Window With A Medium-format Camera And Caught The Moment Before The Second Plane’s Impact

Rob Howard Report

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Cat Meow
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at all these pictures gives me goosebumps and flash backs to that day

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#3

People Falling From The Towers

People Falling From The Towers

David Surowiecki Report

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Burning to death is the most painful thing, and it isn't any wonder that so many choose a quick death over the ultimate torture.

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#4

A Man Has A Job To Do

A Man Has A Job To Do

Melanie Einzig Report

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This does not surprise me at all. When I was in graduate school I worked the midnight shift at UPS, in Knoxville. Everything was 100% about getting the packages shipped and delivered. Management never slowed down. Everyone worked non stop from the moment they clocked in until they clocked out. In other words, you were paid well, but earned every penny made. Its the most 'workaholic' company in the world, I kid you not.

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#5

As Seen Through A Fish-Eye Lens From An Apartment Four Blocks Away, Smoke Streams From The North Tower Within Minutes Of The First Plane’s Attack

As Seen Through A Fish-Eye Lens From An Apartment Four Blocks Away, Smoke Streams From The North Tower Within Minutes Of The First Plane’s Attack

Patricia McDonough Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sure who ever took this pic, will never forget the view entire life. Horrific, terrible and sad.

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#6

American Airlines Flight 11 (Visible In The Upper Right-Hand Corner Of The Photo) Approaches The North Tower Of The World Trade Center On September 11, 2001

American Airlines Flight 11 (Visible In The Upper Right-Hand Corner Of The Photo) Approaches The North Tower Of The World Trade Center On September 11, 2001

American Airlines Flight 11 (visible in the upper right-hand corner of the photo) approaches the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This largely unknown triptych (the subsequent images follow), shot from a Brooklyn window, was part of an ongoing Internet art exhibition that displayed updated panoramas of downtown Manhattan every four seconds. A time code can be seen in the lower right-hand corner of each frame.

Wolfgang Staehle Report

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Greg Hoggarth
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I recall there being very little footage of the first plane hitting, so this might be amongst that scarce record.

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#7

South Tower Of The World Trade Center Collapsing

South Tower Of The World Trade Center Collapsing

Bolivar Arellano Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg, this is so unreal. wonder how this person or camera survived. I have never seen any pic before captured at this angle showing tower collapse. OP must be couple of hundred meters near or less than the base of building.

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#8

The South Tower Disintegrates, Raining Debris Behind A Cross Atop Trinity Church

The South Tower Disintegrates, Raining Debris Behind A Cross Atop Trinity Church

James Nachtwey / VII for Time Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if that cross was still standing post both buildings collapsed.

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#9

Not Yet Realizing A Terrorist Attack Was In Progress, Architect And Amateur Pilot Isabel Daser, Eight Months Pregnant, Asked A Co-Worker To Take Her Portrait As A Record Of The Day

Not Yet Realizing A Terrorist Attack Was In Progress, Architect And Amateur Pilot Isabel Daser, Eight Months Pregnant, Asked A Co-Worker To Take Her Portrait As A Record Of The Day

Daser Bessler Report

#10

The Second Plane Flew Directly Over My Head And Slammed Into The South Tower. It Took Me A Few Seconds To Get My Head Together, And This Was The Shot I Took

The Second Plane Flew Directly Over My Head And Slammed Into The South Tower. It Took Me A Few Seconds To Get My Head Together, And This Was The Shot I Took

Marc A. Garrett Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would probably print this and hang in my study as a reminder of world is not a fair place. So many peaceful and innocent lives were lost this day, so many people lost their loved ones, and for what?

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#11

I Was 4 Years Old And The Picture Was Taken Along The Westside Highway That Morning On 9/11

I Was 4 Years Old And The Picture Was Taken Along The Westside Highway That Morning On 9/11

AustinSansone Report

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Isabel Tamayo
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who would have thought? Walking on a busy street, the weather is nice and sunny. You click a picture of your son and suddenly see the tragedy at the background. Really sad.

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A Rey
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Suddenly? I doubt it. The photographers almost certainly knew what was going on and took the picture to remember they were there when... (sort of how I recorded the whole 24 hours of news on a VHS tape to remember the day)

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Charles
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had turned 30 years old in January of 2001. And I like many others remember exactly what we were doing that day that beautiful, clear, blue sky Tuesday morning. That turned into our worst nightmare.

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Pamela Grove
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can be glad you were only 4 years old and didn't understand the impact of what was happening that day.

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Cynthia Phillips
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By including the child in the shot they are capturing the moment in history that the child live through but probably won't remember when he grows up so I Kinda didn't work so I would've clicked I think

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Cynthia Phillips
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stupid AutoCorrect I actually said that I don't know if I would've Clicked or not. It will be something the child should have in his memory yet ,might not be able to get around the shock. When asked what he was doing that day, he will remember! I think they would have run for a better angle if planned...!

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Bina Acharya
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

everything has happened so fast that none of them saw the dusty smoke... :(

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Cynthia Phillips
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! They didn't even know how big it would become, if they had seen it at all

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Becca Jozwiak
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People didn't really realize what was going on. All they knew was that it had happened.

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Diego Giuliano
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If my parents would tell me that i was there during that orrific day, then i would be terrified. This kid's heart problably destroyed when he seen this image of him, when there is the north tower of the World Trade Center in flame, losing very very much smooke. INCREDIBLE!

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Decarlos James
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

both towers were already burning..."lets get a photo of people dying billy..ITS THE AMERICAN WAY!!!!"

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Pretty Princess
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was only a year older than him. I was living in Philadelphia with my family and my mom picked me and my brother up early from school that day.

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Renee Willard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was also four when it happened. My mother did a good job not letting my sister and I see the footage. But I remember seeing video of the second plane hitting, it's my earliest memory. It's amazing what binds us all together, we are the youngest people who have memories of that day...

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Linda Harms
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those people are running/walking uptown to get away from the disaster. EVERYONE noticed except the narcissists taking pictures of themselves and their kids with a terror attack as the background.

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Kshitij Desai
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6 years ago

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people unaware of such a crazy disaster in the background this is totally wicked !

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Eva Duskova
Community Member
6 years ago

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Hey! there's a building on fire,stand here so we can take a pic of you :)

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Eva Duskova
Community Member
6 years ago

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Meanwhile ppl are walking and continue their conversation: so where did I stop? Yes,Kelly got fat...

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Antoine Suibhne
Community Member
6 years ago

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Building on fire let's take a picture son what goes on in people's head I will never know

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago

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why would you click a picture like this?

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Cat Meow
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure it wasn't his decision... As for whoever did take that picture: I'm a little torn. Take pictures to document this historical disaster: Yes. With the kid posing in the picture? Not sure.

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#12

A Lone Man Runs Down Broadway As A Smoke And Dust Cloud Comes Up The Street From The Collapsing World Trade Center Buildings In New York September 11, 2001

A Lone Man Runs Down Broadway As A Smoke And Dust Cloud Comes Up The Street From The Collapsing World Trade Center Buildings In New York September 11, 2001

Kelly Price Report

#14

Smoke Plumes Are Clearly Visible In This Landsat 7 Satellite Image Of New York City Made Early On September 12

Smoke Plumes Are Clearly Visible In This Landsat 7 Satellite Image Of New York City Made Early On September 12

NASA Report

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logical fallacy
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the scariest accounts I've read on 9/11 is that of a woman who worked nearby and lived not-so-nearby. In her mind, the most horrifying was the smell of burnt debris and people that engulfed te city in the following days. I can see why now.

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#15

A Plane Explodes After Hitting The Second Tower Of The World Trade Center As The Other Tower Burns

A Plane Explodes After Hitting The Second Tower Of The World Trade Center As The Other Tower Burns

Sara K. Schwittek Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

O' dear lord, please spare me from seeing such images again in my lifetime, or my children or anyone after that. It scarred me for life, don't want to happen with this anyone, anymore.

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#16

Penman Got As Close To The Buildings As He Could, Before Police Put Up A Cordon. But That Meant He Was Right Next To The Buildings When The First Tower Collapsed

Penman Got As Close To The Buildings As He Could, Before Police Put Up A Cordon. But That Meant He Was Right Next To The Buildings When The First Tower Collapsed

Phil Penman Report

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Sophie G
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how there was not more damage to the buildings surrounding them, or was there?

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#17

On A Brooklyn Rooftop Shortly After The Collapse Of The Twin Towers

On A Brooklyn Rooftop Shortly After The Collapse Of The Twin Towers

On a Brooklyn rooftop shortly after the collapse of the Twin Towers, Jenna Piccirillo and three-month-old Vaughan embody innocence and resilience, according to the photographer: “Life continues in the face of disaster . . . despite the horrors we inflict on one another.”

Alex Webb/Magnum Photos Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why I can't find anything to comment on this pic, is it because this picture is such a contrast of what is happening. One side is disaster, loss of innocent lives, and one side there is a new life booming and making its way into such unpredictable world. what thoughts must be going inside that mother's mind, only a mother would know.

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#18

The Photographer Considered This 9/11 Brooklyn Scene Too Tranquil At The Time. He Decided Not To Publish The Image Widely Until Four Years After The Attacks

The Photographer Considered This 9/11 Brooklyn Scene Too Tranquil At The Time. He Decided Not To Publish The Image Widely Until Four Years After The Attacks

Thomas Hoepker/Magnum Photos Report

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Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what did it mean to them...no radio???...no news????...They may have thought it was an office fire...very much doubt they were aware of the tragedy and continued so casually....

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#19

Twin Towers Of The World Trade Center Burn Behind The Empire State Building

Twin Towers Of The World Trade Center Burn Behind The Empire State Building

Marty Lederhandler Report

#20

Several Buildings In The Trade Center Complex Collapsed Following A Terrorist Attack

Several Buildings In The Trade Center Complex Collapsed Following A Terrorist Attack

Petra Beter Report

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EmptySoul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sometimes its so hard to believe those 2 buildings collapsed like dominos. It feels like it happened yesterday.

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