A series of controlled explosions have been carried out in central London after Britain’s busiest shopping area was evacuated.
Bomb disposal teams carried out the detonations after a cordon was put up around the scene in the Regent Street area of central London.
The explosions were carried out as a precautionary measure, the Metropolitan police said in a statement.
The force said shortly after 2.30pm that a parked vehicle that had caused the alarm was found to be non-suspicious and the incident had been “fully stood down”.
Counter-terror sources indicated that the incident did not initially appear to be terror-related.
Police said on X earlier: “Road closures are in place in the vicinity of Regent Street and New Burlington Street while officers investigate a suspicious vehicle. Officers have carried out a number of controlled explosions as a precautionary measure.”
Video and images posted on social media showed shoppers running along a street, along with a heavy police presence and other emergency services.
Police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package at Euston railway station in November.
