Remains of five police officers found at ‘ground zero’

The remains of five police officers have been recovered at the World Trade Centre site in New York, a spokesman said.

Chief James Romito, Captain Kathy Mazza, Lieutenant Robert Cirri and Officers James Parham and Stephen Huczko were among the 37 Port Authority police officers killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The bodies were discovered together on Saturday at the base of 1 World Trade Centre, Port Authority spokesman Greg Trevor said.

All five had rushed from the Port Authority police headquarters and training academy in Jersey City, New Jersey, to help in the evacuation of the trade centre, he said.

‘‘They were some of the finest people that I’ve ever worked with anywhere,’’ Mr Trevor said. ‘‘All five were highly regarded police officers. They helped countless people escape.’’

The remains of 16 of the Port Authority police officers killed on September 11 have now been found, said.

The city’s official count of those killed at the World Trade Centre stood at 2,843 as of Friday.