Armed police descended on a busy east London road after a van was left abandoned near a tube station, sparking terror fears.
The Metropolitan Police was called to Aldgate East underground station this morning after the white van was left in the middle of the road.
Office workers said they had been shut in their buildings while the threat was assessed.
“Woah – one lonely van outside the office surrounded by loads of police cordons and we’re not allowed to leave the building,” Hannah Stewart tweeted.
Olivia Millington added: “Been told not to leave the office due to serious incident. Apparently people running out the station with backpacks but unconfirmed.”
But the scare ended when the van driver reappeared. A witness told The Independent she saw two men approaching a vehicle, with one holding what appeared to be a fuel container.
A Met spokeswoman said: “Police were called at approximately 10.55am on Friday, 10 August to reports of a man acting suspiciously near Aldgate East station.
“Officers attended and road closures were put in place.
“Following enquiries, the incident was deemed non-suspicious and stood down.”
No one was arrested, she said.
