Images by Larry Towell show us what he saw after the dust cloud settled and light returnedPhotographs from Magnum photographer Larry Towell, showing the chaos in New York City on 9/11 as he arrived “the epicentre” just as the second tower came down. Larry TowellFri Sept 11 2026 - 17:13 • 1 MIN READI was 15 when 9/11 happened. My memory of the event is framed around being taken out of PE in school and brought up to the teachers staff room to watch the news unfold on their TV. The pre-smartphone era, when news travelled that little bit slower. Here are five photographs from New York City on that day by Magnum photographer Larry Towell. Towell, who was in the city for the photo agency’s annual meet up of members, arrived at what he called “the epicentre” just as the second tower came down. His photos capture what he saw after the dust cloud settled and light returned to the street. These images, along with those captured by his Magnum colleague Susan Meiselas, for me capture the taste and smell of the dust, the air and show us the confusion of the aftermath and the attempts of those there to process what had just occurred. One particular standout image is that of a clergyman standing, almost in isolation, next to the base of one of the towers appearing to be lost in thought at the scene before him.USA. New York City. As people work around him, a minister stands amid the wreckage of the World Trade Center, seemingly dazed from the events of the day. September 11th, 2001. USA. NYC. 9/11/2001. A dazed man picks up a paper that was blown out of the towers after the attack of the World Trade Center, and begins to read it. A civilian runs from ground zero after the attack of the World Trade Center. Photograph: Larry Towell/Magnum Photos A policeman near ground zero after the attack of the World Trade Center. Photograph: Larry Towell/Magnum Photos Firemen go into Ground Zero shortly after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Photograph: Larry Towell/Magnum Photos IN THIS SECTION