People have been evacuated from Trafalgar Square in London after a suspicious package was found this morning. The tourist destination was closed by police following an incident, but is expected to reopen shortly.
There had been reports of people hearing a loud bang following a controlled explosion at around 11am. Tourist Sarah Churchill who was in Trafalgar Square at the time, with her 11-year-old son Noah, told the Mirror : "There were lots of police, we were just about to walk through the square when we got to corner we saw it was cordoned off."
She said a police officer told her it was a suspicious package: "I don't know if was a controlled explosion, but no one told us it was about to go off. The policeman looked shocked," she said.
A statement from the City of Westminster Police said earlier: "Officers are currently at Trafalgar Square where they have evacuated the scene. Please do not travel to the area."
They later updated the message: "Police remain on scene. The incident has now been concluded and the square will reopen in due course."
In a later message, they said: "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."
Jon Hansen, a reporter of WGN Radio, wrote on twitter: "Rushed out of Trafalgar Hotel because of a suspicious vehicle outside. Hurrying downstairs we saw a car with all windows smashed.
"On our way out of the area we heard an explosion. The hotel had told us police were waiting for evacuation before a controlled detonation."
Global news' Crystal Goomansingh tweeted: ‘Controlled explosion near Trafalgar square. Police say officers dealt with a suspicious vehicle. “Please don’t panic that you heard a bang,” says a Met officer on site.’
It is understood the square has since reopened.
Updates as we get them.
