Debris that appears to be part of the landing gear of one of the jets flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, has been found in New York City.

The 5ft (1.52m) piece of metal, which bears a Boeing label and serial number, was wedged between two New York City buildings, local police is quoted in saying by BBC Saturday.

It was found on Wednesday by surveyors inspecting a lower Manhattan building at the site where a mosque and community center have been proposed, three streets away from "Ground Zero" - the site of the twin towers.

The New York Police Department has secured the area behind 51 Park Place and 50 Murray Street as a crime scene.

Police have taken photographs and are keeping it off-limits until a health assessment has been made by the medical examiner's office.

"It's a manifestation of a horrific terrorist act a block and a half away from where we stand," New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters outside the secured site. "It brings back terrible memories to anyone who was here, who was involved in that event."

He further said investigators will search the space for possible human remains.

At 08:46 on September 11, 2001, American Airlines flight 11 hit the World Trade Center's north tower. Seventeen minutes later, United flight 175 hit the south tower.

Although rubble from the attack was cleared in 2002, other debris has been found scattered across the area in the years since.

Nearly 3 000 people died in the terror attacks as planes were brought down in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.

Five suspected al-Qaeda militants are awaiting trial for the attacks at a military tribunal at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused of masterminding the attacks while the other four men being held at Guantanamo Bay are implicated for providing support for the coordinated hijacking.

They are charged with conspiring with al-Qaeda, terrorism, and one count of murder for each known victim and face a possible death sentence if convicted.