The Sunday News
The Statue of Liberty was declared safe on Friday after a bomb scare forced the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the New York Harbor landmark, the National Parks Service said. All visitors and staff were safely ferried off Liberty Island soon after an anonymous caller threatened to blow up the statue that stands guard at the mouth of the Hudson River, Mindi Rambo, a National Park Service spokeswoman, said in a statement. The 911 call came in at around 11am local time.
About four hours later authorities sounded the all-clear after a security sweep, including two canine patrols, failed to uncover any explosive device on the island.
Liberty Island, which draws some 4 million visitors a year, will reopen on Saturday, the park service said.
Statue Cruises, which operates ferry service between Liberty Island and Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, said it took about 2 700 people off the island and offered passengers full refunds.
“We are working with NPS to reunite passengers with their belongings left behind as a result of today’s events,” Mike Burke, vice president of Statue Cruises, said in a statement. — Reuters
