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.
(AFP/Getty Images)
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, 2015The 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, 2015The National Park Service did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheBlaze.
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