Scores of London homes have been evacuated after the discovery of a “suspected suicide vest” – that turned out to be a harmless bin bag.
Streets around City Road in Islington were sealed off and residents ordered to leave the area after police received a report of the suspicious package near a bus stop.
A resident told The Independent they had been informed by a police officer that it was a suspected suicide vest, but the incident was later stood down.
Several officers were seen remonstrating at the scene with a man who they accused of wasting police time.
One resident said: “The police seemed quite annoyed. They were telling this guy he had wasted police time and to take the smile off his face, but he was just saying ‘well I didn’t know’.”
Police were called to the incident in City Road at about 7pm on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers attended [the scene] – the item has been declared non-suspicious and the incident is being fully stood down.
“Road closures and cordons will be lifted shortly.”
