The remains of a 26-year-old man who worked at the World Trade Centre have been identified, nearly 17 years after the 9/11 attacks, as a result of advanced DNA re-testing.

New York City’s chief medical examiner’s office has been able to identify the remains belonging to Scott Michael Johnson, which were recovered after the 2001 terror attack. Mark Desire, the assistant director of forensic biology at the city’s chief medical examiner’s office, told The New York Times that until recently, his colleagues have been unable to extract enough DNA to make a positive identification from the sample.

Mr Desire explained that with the application of new technology, among other advancements, the techniques for extracting and identifying DNA have improved.

“In 2001, we made a commitment to the families of victims that we would do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to identify their loved ones,” said Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson in a statement. “This identification is the result of the tireless dedication of our staff to this ongoing mission.”

Of the 2,753 reported deaths from the 9/11 terror attack in New York, Mr Johnson is reportedly the 1,642 person to be identified by the New York City’s medical examiner’s office, The Times reported.

The children of 9/11 on the frontline Show all 11 1 /11 The children of 9/11 on the frontline The children of 9/11 on the frontline The children of 9/11 on the frontline Lance Corporal Kody Torok, 19, Pitsburgh, Penn (USMC) The children of 9/11 on the frontline Private First Class Janos Lutz, 21, Davie, Florida (USMC)



'I remember New York a few months afterwards. It was very, very weird. There were National Guardsmen in fatigues. It felt like martial law.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Specialist Rabmal Sadal, 23, Santa Maria, California (Army)



'Two towns over from where I lived there was an Indian guy who got shot at a 7-11 (store) and killed. He wasn’t even a Muslim. I got into a couple of fights at school. My mum took me out of school for a couple of months. We stayed at home.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Lance Corporal Joshua Apsey, 19, Tampa, Florida (USMC)



'I saw a clip of the Marines training. People were saying it was the best option to send in the Marines. It looked pretty cool and exciting. That's when I decided I was going to join. The day I turned 17 I swore in.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Lance Corporal Nicholas Elliot, 20, Columbus, Ohio



'I didn't know what the World Trade Center was. In seventh grade I had no idea I would end up here. In seventh grade I was more worried about what the girls thought about me than anything else.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Petty Officer 3rd Class Sam 'Doc' Walters, 21, Seattle, Washington (Navy)



'September 11 is one of the reasons I joined up but not specifically. I was American and I couldn't express that.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Lance Corporal Edgar Maza Machado, 22, Miami, Florida (USMC)



'Some people feel sad, some people feel angry. My mood every time that the anniversary comes round is that I am just quiet. It still gets to me, the stupidity of people. It was one of the reasons I joined up. That and making something out of myself.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Lance Corporal Mathew Price, 21, Springville, Alabama (USMC)



'They hit us on American soil. We fight them over here. We choke them out, don't give them - al-Qa'ida or the Taliban - any room to breathe, put pressure on them so they cannot push out and expand. We will take the hit and let our families and friends back home stay safe. We keep the war on their land. If we sat back and did nothing, I don't doubt they would attack us.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline 1st Lieutenant Ted Hubbard, 25, West Chester, New York



'I felt I should have been there to help out but I was only 17 at the time. I was always patriotic but it certainly pushed me to join the military. At the back of my mind we are at war and I felt it was necessary to participate.'

Read his 9/11 experience The children of 9/11 on the frontline Corporal Andrew Bryant, 21, Syracuse, New York (USMC)



'I got home and my Mom was watching TV and crying really hard. Three friends had family at the World Trade Center. A guy in my class, his uncle died.'

Read his 9/11 experience

Ann Johnson, mother of Mr Johnson, who worked as a security analyst for Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods on the 89th floor of the south tower in the World Trade Centre, said learning her son’s remains had been identified has provided a “finality.”

“You get pulled right back into it and it also means there’s a finality,” she said. “Somehow I always thought he would just walk up and say, ‘Here I am. I had amnesia.’”