Liberty Island was evacuated Friday afternoon after a caller threatened to blow up the Statue of Liberty, officials said.

Authorities received the threat from a 911 caller shortly after 11 a.m., said Mindi Rambo, a spokeswoman for the Nation Park Service.

Park police swept the area with bomb-sniffing dogs, one of which indicated there was something suspicious in a locker, according to Rambo. Authorities then issued the evacuation.

"Liberty Island and the statue were evacuated shortly after noon as a precaution," said Sgt. Lelani Woods, another Park Police spokeswoman.

At about 2 p.m., police cleared the locker which, according the Rambo, contained no explosive device.

Duane Porter, 60, of Kansas City, Kan., was in the pedestal of the Statue when security officers suddenly notified him and others they had to leave.

"They said everybody please take the stairway down, we're evacuating the island," he said.

The New York Police Department also responded to the scene with harbor units and a bomb squad.

All service to Liberty Island were postponed during the investigation, according to ferry operator Statue Cruises.

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State Park Police, which patrols Liberty State Park directly from the island, assisted with the evacuations as people arrived on ferries in New Jersey, said spokesman Bob Considine.

Statue Cruises said in a statement it transported 2,700 people from Liberty Island during the evacuation Friday and offered all passengers refunds.

Liberty Island will reopen tomorrow.

"We are working with NPS to reunite passengers with their belongings left behind as a result of today's events. Service to Liberty Island will resume Saturday morning at 8:30," said Mike Burke, Vice President and COO of Statue Cruises.

New Jersey State Police and Jersey City Police Department were not involved in the evacuation.

Anyone who had ferry tickets Friday for Statue Cruises may call 877-523-9849 for rebooking.

NJ Advanced Media reporter Steve Strunsky and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.