Skyscraper reopening put off as more bodies found

As firefighters sadly saluted a new set of human remains uncovered at ground zero, New York City officials today postponed plans to reopen a symbolic skyscraper a few feet away.

One Liberty Plaza, a building at the south-west corner of the fallen World Trade Centre, was set to reopen with a ceremony that some business leaders said would mark the rebirth of the financial district.

That ceremony has been delayed, according to Richard Sheirer, director of the mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

‘‘There were a few things that we weren’t totally satisfied with, and as soon as those areas are cleaned up .... we’ll let it open as quickly as we can,’’ Sheirer said.

In the days following the September 11 attack, the city used the building to support its rescue and recovery operations, which still continue outside amid the rubble nearly six weeks later.

Workers have toiled night and day at the site where thousands of people were lost, stopping only long enough to salute as bodies are draped with the American flag and removed from the site.

It appeared that workers found a new pocket of human remains yesterday afternoon.

Twelve bodies were seen being removed from the rubble of the north tower within about six hours. Firefighters stood still as the bodies slowly were driven away.

The number of missing at the trade centre stood at 4,470, with 460 bodies recovered, 410 of which have been identified, according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

Next Sunday, the city plans to halt operations on the heap of burning rubble to hold a prayer service for families of those who were lost in the attack, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said.

The mayor said families visiting the site over the weekend told him ‘‘it was very comforting in a strange way to actually be there and see the place where their loved one died, and maybe is buried’’.

‘‘I think it would be appropriate to suspend for a period of time next week, and allow as many of the family members who would find that comforting to be able to go there and have an interdenominational prayer service, and just a chance to see it and reflect and pray,’’ the mayor said.