In a pilgrimage following the Sunday killing of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama plans to visit the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan Thursday afternoon, according to news reports.
The White House was mum on details of the visit, but various media reported Wednesday that the president would visit a firehouse and meet privately with families of Sept. 11 victims as well as participate in a public wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the Twin Towers, where construction of the new World Trade Center and a memorial park continues.
Meanwhile, security has tightened around the city, including an increase in police presence along subway routes and bridges, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed authorities’ plea for citizen cooperation with its “if you see something, say something” campaign in the wake of bin Laden’s death. Obama’s mid-day visit was expected to shutter the PATH station at Ground Zero for a few hours from mid-morning until mid-afternoon, as well as close some major vehicle routes, while NYC Transit issued a warning that downtown bus routes would be affected.
