9/11 memorial 'must be opened by 10th anniversary': Ward

The head of the foundation building the September 11 memorial in New York told supporters it is “essential” to open the memorial by the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, disputing a report that the project could not be finished on time.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s executive director, Chris Ward, announced on Monday that nearly every project under construction at the World Trade Centre site is behind schedule and that the memorial would not be able to open by its target of September 11, 2011.

Yesterday, Mr Ward said the public might have access to the cobblestone, tree-covered memorial plaza by the attacks’ 10th anniversary, but construction would still need to continue after that.