Police have evacuated Trafalgar Square and carried out a controlled explosion after reports of a suspicious vehicle yards away from where part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations are to be held.
Metropolitan police officers were seen asking people to leave the area after receiving a report from a member of the public at 9.22am on Saturday.
Guests staying at a hotel nearby were also evacuated and police told people not to travel to the area.
People near the scene said they had heard a bang, and Scotland Yard confirmed a “small controlled explosion” had been carried out. A spokesperson said it was not terrorism-related.
The square, which hosts Nelson’s Column and stretches out in front of the National Gallery, has since been reopened.
“Police attended a report from a member of the public at 09:22hrs of a suspicious vehicle in Trafalgar Square. This was investigated and after police took action we have no further concern. This was not terrorism related. The incident has now been concluded and the square will reopen in due course,” police said on Twitter.
A spokesperson told Reuters intensive checks were being carried out in the area, which is a short distance from where a concert is to be staged outside Buckingham Palace later in the day.
Sunday’s platinum jubilee pageant will pass Trafalgar Square, turning on to Whitehall from the Mall.
Scotland Yard said the incident was believed to have involved a suspicious package.
