Westminster evacuated as police carry out controlled explosion on 'suspicious package'

Police evacuated part of Westminster and workers were told to stay inside after reports of a possible suspicious package as bomb disposal teams carried out a controlled explosion in the area

12:38, 07 Jun 2022Updated 13:27, 07 Jun 2022

Westminster: Police respond to incident near Houses of Parliament

Police evacuated Parliament Street in Westminster after reports of a possible suspicious package with the bomb disposal team seen carrying out a controlled explosion.

The cordons were in place for just over an hour later before the Met Police dealt with the package and revealed that it was non suspicious.

The Met Police initially tweeted: Safety cordons have been established at Parliament Street, Westminster, while officers investigate a possible suspicious package.

They have asked public to bear with us while we deal with this item.

Numerous users on Twitter have said that a bomb disposal team and its robot were spotted on the scene.

[Police]

Police evacuated the area so bomb disposal teams could work safely (Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)

Police carried out a controlled explosion on the package before lifting restrictions on entering the area.

The force wrote an update on Twitter following the explosion revealing the package was not suspicious.

The Met Police said: "Road closures and cordons are being lifted after a suspicious package was dealt with at #ParliamentStreet #Westminster. The item was found to be non suspicious. We thank the public for their co-operation while we dealt with the item."

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(Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)

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When the area was evacuated, workers in the area said they were told to stay in the building.

Following the evacuation, a Whitehall worker told Express.co.uk: Were trapped in the office. Not allowed out."

Josiah Mortimer wrote earlier on Twitter that several Whitehall departments are locked down and staff are being kept away from windows.

Traffic was also held up in the area while police investigated.

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