Land seizures for memorial

THE US government will begin taking land from seven property owners so that the Flight 93 memorial can be built in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the National Park Service said.

The park service said it had teamed up with a group representing the victims’ families to work with landowners since before 2005 to acquire the land. “But with few exceptions, these negotiations have been unsuccessful,” a statement said.

The seven property owners own about 500 acres still needed for what will ultimately be a $58 million (€43m), 2,200-acre permanent memorial and national park at the crash site near Shanksville, about 96 kilometres southeast of Pittsburgh.