A view of the the Statue of Liberty, as Liberty Island opens to the public on July 4, 2013 for the first time since Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New York area. The Statue of Liberty, one of America's most recognizable symbols, reopens just in time for the July 4 national holiday, after being repaired from damage inflicted last year by Hurricane Sandy. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)
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The Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island in New York City were temporarily evacuated Friday afternoon after a bomb threat and report of a suspicious package.
The National Park Service started escorting all visitors from the world-famous attraction around 1 p.m. after officials received an anonymous call from someone "stating they were going to blow up the Statue of Liberty," the Associated Press reported.
Authorities conducted a security sweep of the area once visitors were gone. and gave the all-clear at around 3 p.m.
The package in question was discovered when a National Park Police dog picked up on a scent coming from a visitor's locker, the New York Daily News reported.
One visitor tweeted videos of the evacuation: "Being evacuated from Liberty Island New York."
Being evacuated from Liberty Island New York pic.twitter.com/t4B6XwV9Sh
— Karla Chavez (@karscool) April 24, 2015
— Karla Chavez (@karscool) April 24, 2015
The New York Police Department special operations division deployed a bomb squad to the area and stationed harbor units nearby. A U.S. Coast Guard chopper was also spotted on its way to the island to assist with the efforts.
Thanks @NYPDSpecialops for getting me to #LibertyIsland to investigate a bomb threat. Still ongoing. #NYPDScuba pic.twitter.com/6jIDvKVHJs
— NYPD 1st Precinct (@NYPD1Pct) April 24, 2015
#USCOASTGUARD Chopper Rushing to the #StatueofLiberty during #Evacuation: https://t.co/FWUmfCmEx8 via @YouTube
— Thomas Tobin (@tvnooz) April 24, 2015
The National Park Service did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheBlaze.
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