Whitehall lockdown: Item declared non-suspicious by police near Downing Street

Whitehall was cordoned off

(Picture: Twitter/@₿eetsAndCorn)

Scotland Yard cordoned off Whitehall as they investigated a “suspicious package” reported in the heart of Westminster.

The public were being warned off approaching the tourist hotspot as the item was assessed by specialist officers.

Hundreds of people were crowding up in Horse Guards Parade, behind Downing Street, after they were evacuated from their buildings as a precaution at 11.45am on Tuesday.

An hour later police reopened the section having declared the item as non-suspicious.

Parliament Street is closed due to a “suspicious package”, a police officer tells me.

All closed off and is being evacuated, he added. pic.twitter.com/YuTDnY8ARr

— Ben Bloch (@realBenBloch) October 18, 2022

A Met Police spokesman tweeted later: “Specialist officers have assessed the item in #Whitehall and it has been declared as non-suspicious.

“The cordon has been lifted.

“Thank you for your patience.”

The closed off section stretches from Parliament Square past Downing Street and the Cenotaph.