Counter terrorism police are investigating after a video of drones carrying ‘dangerous substances’ allegedly targeted the Israel Embassy in west London last night.
The Metropolitan Police said they have blocked off public access to Kensington Gardens, which is the park next to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ London base of Kensington Palace and yards from the Israeli Embassy, after several ‘discarded items’ were found in the park.
They added that some officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing, and while they do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, they are urging people to avoid the area.
Signs containing the warning ‘Hazardous conditions – do not enter’ have been installed on fencing around the park, which is often used for dog walkers, families and tourists to sit and relax in.
Metro has seen dog walkers looking confused as they try to enter but are being prevented from doing so by Royal Parks staff.
The staff are informing people the park is closed, but are declining to say any more.
Last night the Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya – known as The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand – posted a video online with footage of two people piloting drones in a park.
Alongside the footage, it contained the statement: ‘Warning. The embassy of the Zionist regime in London has been targeted by two drones carrying radioactive and carcinogenic materials.
‘Please stay 900 meters away from the location and do not pass through there due to the presence of radioactive materials.’
The video then shows two people wearing hazmat suits with two drones that have jam jars inside them.
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They are then seen inside a park launching the drones while music plays in the background.
The video has not yet been verified.
In a statement, the Met Police said: ‘There is an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens and officers are assessing a number of discarded items.
‘As a precaution, some of the officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing.
‘We recognize this may concern local residents and the wider public.
‘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.
‘There are cordons in place and there is no public access to the gardens and the surrounding area.
‘Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claim to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.
‘While we can confirm that the Embassy has not been attacked, we are carrying out urgent enquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items discarded in Kensington Gardens.
‘We will provide further updates when we are able to.’
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
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