WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is directing agencies to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay "to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders."

"REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding he has instructed the Federal Bureau of Prisons together with the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt” version of the facility.

"When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm," he said.

"We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally.

"The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE," he added.

The notorious prison, which is one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations, was closed in 1963 after 29 years of operation.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ website, the prison was shut down because it was three times more expensive to operate than other prisons.