US: Video of the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre has been largely kept off New York's television screens to spare the emotions of the victims' families and of people who witnessed the attacks.
But yesterday New Yorkers were forced to relive the traumatic experience of 32 months ago when the independent commission investigating the attacks of September 11th, 2001, came to town to grill public officials on how they handled the catastrophe.
During the first of two days of televised public hearings, in a Greenwich Village school less that two miles from Ground Zero, emotions were never far from the surface.
The fire, police and emergency chiefs on duty when the hijacked planes smashed into the towers - all of whom lost scores of colleagues - struggled to maintain their composure as they were asked why the city was not better prepared. When commission member Slade Gorton said the public services were a "scandal not worthy of boy scouts", former fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen could hardly contain his fury.
"I think it's outrageous that you make a statement like that," he said.
"There was not a single instance when we didn't work together on 9/11."
Relatives in the audience held hands and wept openly during the showing of a dramatic video - relayed on all local television channels - of the planes smashing into the towers, and of the chaos as rescuers rushed in.
To the applause of family members, former senator Bob Kerrey said the 19 hijackers "defeated the INS, they defeated the Customs, they defeated the FBI, they defeated the CIA" and they had to ensure they were taking every step now to prevent a new attack.
When asked if he had been warned in the summer of 2001 of a high terrorism alert level, former police commissioner Bernard Kerik said that officials had told him in Washington something was going to happen and "it's going to be enormous", but that it would be outside the country.
The former World Trade Centre director, Alan Reiss, said he was unaware of any threat posed by Osama bin Laden until shortly before the attacks, which caused 2,752 deaths.
Mr Reiss also testified that there was no way to tell victims that a rooftop rescue was implausible and this was still the case in some American skyscrapers.
"I don't think it's been fixed," he said.
Many victims died on 9/11 trying to get to the roofs of the twin towers only to find exit doors locked.
The hearing heard how police and firefighters had to make rapid life-and-death decisions based on incomplete communications and with separate commands.
Committee member Sam Casperson testified how Port Authority workers were advised to wait for assistance on the 64th floor of the south tower and many of them died when the tower collapsed.
Communications breakdowns also meant people did not get warnings to evacuate. One survivor told of calling 911 (emergency) from the 44th floor of the south tower, only to be placed on hold twice.
Mr Stanley Pranmath told of seeing, from his 81st-floor office window, the second plane coming almost straight for the building, after being told to stay where he was.
Another survivor, Mr Brian Clark, recalled hearing the announcement that "Building two is secure. There is no need to evacuate ... you may use the re-entry doors and the elevators to return to your office."
Last month in Washington commissioners heard from President George Bush and other administration officials about how they handled warnings of an attack before 9/11.
Relatives frequently broke into applause when commission members asked about inadequacies in the emergency response.
Former mayor, Rudy Giuliani, will testify today. A hero for his handling of the crisis, he has never had to face questions about how well the city was prepared for such an emergency.
One question he will have to answer today was why he decided to locate the city's emergency response centre on the 23rd floor of a World Trade Centre tower.
Mr Richard Sheirer, former director of the city's Office of Emergency Management, testified yesterday that he did not agree with the decision because it was in a building that was a prime target for an attack which would put it out of action.
Mr Sheirer, who is overweight, caused laughter when he gave another reason for his objections: "Do I look like a guy that wants to walk up 23 flights?"