Statue of Liberty to re-open

New York’s famous Statue of Liberty is set to re-open this summer, nearly three years after it was closed following the 11 September terror attacks. The Sky News website reports that the famous statue is likely to be open to the public in around four months’ time, once work to upgrade fire and emergency systems is complete. Visitors to the site will reportedly be subject to airport-style screening, and the monument will operate a reservations system for anyone wanting to climb the 354 steps to its famous crown. The island on which the Statue of Liberty stands, in New York Harbour, was opened about three months after the attacks, with visitors to the island having to go through metal detectors after disembarking from ferries. But the statue has remained closed, and the number of the visits to the island has reportedly dropped 40% during that time. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad