Statue of Liberty evacuation lifted after bomb threat

NEW YORK — The Statue of Liberty was deemed safe on Friday after a bomb threat lead to a security sweep and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists from Liberty Island in New York Harbor, NBC’s local television affiliate reported, citing law enforcement sources.

The United States Park Police, which has jurisdiction over the island, could not be reached immediately to confirm the report on NBC 4 New York.

This is a breaking news update. Reuters’ previous story is below.

Visitors to the Statue of Liberty were evacuated from Liberty Island in New York Harbor on Friday after a report of a suspicious package, the United States Park Police said, and law enforcement officials are investigating the site.

The New York Police Department’s bomb squad is assisting in the security sweep of one of the New York area’s most popular tourist destinations, a NYPD spokesman said.

The evacuation was ordered after a telephone bomb threat and police dogs detected a suspicious scent on a package, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing park police.

Sergeant Lelani Woods of the U.S. Park Police said she could not confirm that anyone phoned in a bomb threat.

Video posted on Twitter showed crowds of tourists slowly shuffling onto ferries to be carried off the island, which lies between Manhattan and New Jersey near the mouth of the Hudson River.

“Waiting to be evacuated off #libertyisland. Interesting,” a person identified as Rick Borgmeyer wrote on Twitter.