9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack
Almost 23 years on from the deadly attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, a victim’s remains have been identified.
John Ballantine Niven, 44, was an executive at Aon Risk Services, an insurance firm on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the Trade Centre complex in September 2001.
Niven is the 1,650th victim identified from the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil, when hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers, killing 2,753 people on September 11th.
At the time of his death, he left behind a wife and an 18-month-old son, with his body remaining unidentified until now.
“While the pain from the enormous losses on September 11th never leaves us, the possibility of new identifications can offer solace to the families of victims,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
“I’m grateful for the ongoing work from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner that honours the memory of John Ballantine Niven and all those we lost.”
In recent years, the medical examiner’s office has been utilising modern advanced DNA technology to identify victims through their remains.
“We will forever remember our heroes who perished on 9/11 and we appreciate the continuous efforts of forensic experts to help identify victims,” Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a separate statement.
“We’re hopeful that this amazing advance in technology helps bring peace to Niven’s family and allows him to eternally rest in peace.”
Roughly 40 percent of victims of the World Trade Centre attack have yet to have their remains identified, as few full bodies were recovered when the towers collapsed.
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