Police are “assessing a number of discarded items” in London’s Kensington Gardens after a video was shared online in which a group claimed to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.
The Metropolitan Police said the embassy had not been attacked and officers were investigating the source and authenticity of the footage.
The entire park is cordoned off and will be closed throughout Friday as police investigate the items.
In a statement, the embassy confirmed the site was not attacked and staff were safe, while the Met said it does “not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage”.
A Met Police chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear team has been seen near the park’s bandstand.
A fire investigation unit from the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team are also present at the scene.
A Met spokesperson said: “We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but we would urge people to avoid the area while officers carry out their work.”
The force added that it recognised the incident may concern local residents and the wider public, but it did not believe there to be any increased public safety risk.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the embassy said: “A suspected security incident is being investigated in the park adjacent to the Embassy of Israel in London.
“We wish to clarify that all Embassy staff are safe and that the Embassy was not attacked.
“As always we remain in close and continuous contact with the local authorities.”
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