US pays more than $565 million to September 11 victims

The US government's fund to compensate victims of the September 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks has paid more than $565 million so far and has received nearly 2,200 claims, the Justice Department said yesterday.

Kenneth Feinberg, the fund's special master, said in an update that the average amount paid to the families of those who died during the attacks has been more than $1.5 million.

Individual amounts to the families have ranged from $250,000 to $6.1 million, he said. Amounts received by those injured in the attacks have ranged from $500,000 to $6.8 million.

The fund was part of an airline assistance package approved by Congress after the attacks. By taking part in the programme, families of the victims give up their right to sue for damages from defendants such as the airlines or the World Trade Centre.