New York City has yielded to the wishes of families of September 11 victims and will allow them access to the World Trade Center site during the upcoming sixth anniversary commemoration of the 2001 attacks.
All five previous anniversary events had taken place inside the giant pit where the Twin Towers were destroyed, but because construction on the replacement towers has begun the city ruled the site unsafe for a ceremony this year.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg relented after meeting family members, agreeing to allow them to descend into the site on a limited basis during the ceremony, most of which will take place in a neighbouring park.
Many relatives of the victims consider the site hallowed ground and actively campaigned for access.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the land where four skyscrapers and a memorial are being built.
The site was largely vacant in past years. Now it is a construction site busy with cranes, trucks and heavy equipment.