Authorities Carry out Controlled Explosion of a ‘Suspicious Package’ Near US Embassy in London – Item Believed To Be a ‘Hoax Device’
London is on edge, as the capital of the troubled United Kingdom was rocked by multiple ‘suspicious packages’.
The United States embassy and streets around it were closed because of a suspicious item. At another part of the city, Gatwick Airport was evacuated after another suspicious item was found in a passenger’s luggage.
Associated Press reported:
“British police carried out a controlled explosion Friday near the U.S. Embassy in London as they investigated reports of a suspicious package in the area.”
Reportedly, no one was injured in the operation.
A road on the western side of the embassy remains closed.
London’s Met Police is investigating the incident.
“’Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London’, the Embassy said in a statement on X.
‘Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution.’”
Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available. Please monitor @metpoliceuk for updates.
— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) November 22, 2024
We can confirm that the ‘loud bang’ reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers.
Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 22, 2024
Later, the Met Police stated that the package left outside the U.S. embassy was a ‘hoax device,’ according to the initial investigation.
The embassy has returned to normal operations.
Reuters reported:
“’Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device’, London’s Metropolitan Police said. ‘An investigation will now follow’.
‘Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down’.”
While normal consular business operations are back, all public appointments for Friday have been cancelled.
The US Embassy is back to normal business operations, with the exception that all public appointments (visa appointments, passport appointments, and other American Citizen services) for 22 November have been cancelled. Applicants will be contacted via email to reschedule. Local…
— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) November 22, 2024
Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.
Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 22, 2024
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