Workers for the New York City medical examiner’s office will begin sifting soil for possible human remains at a site near the World Trade Center where a part believed to be from a plane hijacked by terrorists on 9/11 was found.

Officials say sifting will start on Tuesday after the area is first tested for possible toxicity.

The aircraft part was discovered on Wednesday wedged between an apartment building and a mosque that in 2010 prompted virulent national debate about Islam and freedom of speech because it’s just blocks from ground zero.

Authorities believe the part is from one of the two hijacked planes that brought down the trade center on Sept. 11, 2001. Of the nearly 3,000 victims, remains of about 1,000 were never recovered.

(AP)