for NPR: Inside the lab working to identify the remains of 9/11 victims by José A. Alvarado Jr.

News

for NPR: Inside the lab working to identify the remains of 9/11 victims

josé a. alvarado jr.

Sep 17, 2025

Last month, New York City officials announced they had identified the remains of another three victims who died in the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.

It was the latest update to come out of the missing persons unit of the New York City medical examiner's office, which since 2001 has been running the forensic investigation into the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.

But the news may have surprised those who didn't know that many 9/11 victims still haven't had any of their remains identified — and that city officials are still trying, 24 years later.

Photographed for NPR, with words by Joe Hernandez

Inside the lab working to identify the remains of 9/11 victims
1,100 people killed on 9/11 in New York City have not had any of their remains identified by authorities. The medical examiner's office is using new technology to identify more people.
Npr.org

José A. Alvarado Jr.

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