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This was the greatest tragedy that I have ever seen in my life. It is comparable to the wars which previous generations experienced. -- Robinson Rodriguez

I'm writing to you because I was nearby during the attacks. I wasn't in the World Trade Center, but on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange just a couple of blocks away. The exchange is built as solidly as an air-raid shelter. But the floor shook when the towers collapsed. -- William Phelan, USA

I immediately perceived this day as a declaration of war against the culture and civilization of the occident. I couldn't comprehend the calls for tolerance by many European countries, nor their pacifist stance. -- Tony Aime

Reactions from the Muslim world

September 11th started out like a perfectly normal day. I went to work in a neighborhood where Sunnis, Shiites, Lebanese and Palestinians live. All of sudden, a factory worker came running yelling "Allahu Akbar, God is great! We've beaten them in their own country." I replied "You are all crazy here. You believe the terrorists are revolutionary Islamists? Anyone who knows true Islam can see that these acts have nothing to do with Islam." Islam is the religion of peace. No Muslim can commit or support such an act. It is a crime, no matter which motives the terrorists had. -- Mustafa Masri

In the Arab countries, there is generally a world of difference between the official stance of the government and the general opinion on the street. Many people, whether they don't think about it or out of conviction, assume that the attacks were a result of US interference in global affairs. -- Nadia Al Baschir, Iraq

I as a Muslim was very affected. Islam teaches us to help others and even forgive those who cause us harm. On this day, it became clear to me that there are people who hide behind Islam with such acts. -- Hamed Alhamadneh

September 11th was the worst day in the life of every true Arab Muslim. This day harmed the reputation of Islam and Muslims very much. Since then, they are viewed as terrorists, who kill innocent people. The religion of Islam teaches us to love others and also to forgive. -- Abd Alqader Scheich

How could this happen?

My first thought in the early days after the smoke had cleared was, and still is, disbelief - in how nearly two dozen non-pilot-trained foreigners could have piloted the very complex and fast flying aircraft! How the collapse of all the buildings was indicative of a pre-planned destruction. -- David Scott-Holte

Everybody says al Qaeda attacked the United States. But it's very difficult to believe. How could these people successfully carry out such an operation? -- Nouari Naghmouchi, France

How has your life changed since?

I am possibly affected by this issue in particular, as my husband's last name is "Ra'ad" or "thunder." Every time he travels he is subjected to strict security measures because of his name. This has led me to give my children foreign names when they were born in order to prevent them from having to endure the injustice and dishonorable treatment their father has to. -- Diana Morcos, Lebanon

As a native New Yorker who remembers seeing the towers under construction in 1966, their demise has caused me to view the city as diminished. -- Sal Sax, USA

As a result of that day, my late husband and myself created the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag. This flag is a symbol to be displayed in honor of the lives lost, and the families left behind on that day. It is also our way to try to enable providing continuous funds to various relief efforts related to 9/11/01. We must never forget! -- Joanne Galvin, USA

Everyone thought Madrid could also be a target. And it turned out to be, two-and-a-half years later, when the attacks happened in Madrid. I was a psychologist on duty at the scene and treated victims with head injuries. My conclusion: the threat is global. All countries and institutions have to cooperate. If we don't, they will develop their methods further. It can never happen again! -- Elena Lorente, Spain

Criticism of the superpower USA

My world became one of distrust and fear. My beloved nation became a police state where human civil rights were given up for "security." As our (American) founding fathers once said "those who give up their liberty for security often find that have neither liberty nor security." -- Owen Perkins, USA

With all of the money that our country spends on defense, we allowed 20 men with box cutters to take down two of the largest buildings in our country and bomb the Pentagon to boot. How did 9/11 change my worldview? I have a rather dim view of our government, a government that can not protect its citizens! -- Anthony Guadagno, USA

I was shocked but I had sensed that it would come to this one day. I am an American who lived in Germany for many years. I know the history and understand that the United States has attracted a lot of hate in the world. Probably also because of the years the US itself supported terrorism. Do you remember Argentina, Guatemala or Vietnam? -- Ken Schuffler, USA

The world 10 years later

In all these years which have passed, many things have happened: the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the war on terror, the dialogue by smart people in discussions who conclude that the dialogue between civilizations and cultures is necessary. And lastly there are also the Arab revolutions and the removal of dictatorial regimes in the region. -- Mohammed Abdel Rahim, Egypt

It was a horribly dangerous day. Oh people, when will terrorism be stopped? Let us pray to God that he can restore the world to how it used to be. Violence is everywhere now. The United Nations should help so that there is peace and justice in Africa and Europe again. -- Louis Mtangi

A more just world is in the interest of the entire world! -- Diamil Kebe

Compiled by: Birgit Görtz
Editor: Sabina Casagrande