Exhibition shows 9/11 aftermath

Ground Zero 360 launched at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

It features an audiovisual recreation of New York City in the wake of the 2001 suicide attacks on the World Trade Centre, which claimed almost 3,000 lives.

A unique panorama installation shows the devastation at the site where the twin towers fell, which would become known as Ground Zero.

It was created by New-York based Irish photographer Nicola McClean, who took thousands of photographs in the aftermath of the attacks.

She said she wanted to create the exhibition to honour the victims and their families and to never forget the sacrifices made by many that day.

Nicola McClean is the curator of Ground Zero 360 alongside her husband, Paul McCormack, a now-retired NYPD Inspector who was part of rescue efforts.

The exhibition also includes two commemorative paintings of 9/11 by the internationally acclaimed Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick.

Two planes hijacked by Al Qaeda crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre over a decade ago, with hundreds of lives lost inside the burning office blocks.

A third craft was directed into the US government's Pentagon building in Virginia while a fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, came down in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control.

Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: "This is a significant and poignant exhibition which we are honoured to have in Belfast. The events that occurred on Tuesday September 11 2001 changed the world completely.

"On that tragic day we all came together in shock and grief."

"Words cannot begin to describe the emotions and horror of those who witnessed and were part of the events at the Twin Towers.

The minister continued: "My heartfelt thanks to Nicola McClean who took thousands of photographs and her husband Paul McCormack, who was part of the rescue effort for this remarkable exhibition and tribute to the thousands of people who died."

The Sinn Féin politician concluded: "It is fitting and a huge privilege that Ground Zero 360 has come to the Titanic Quarter, just weeks after the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic."

The exhibition will run in Belfast until 25 May.