False bomb alarm in London

A suspected bomb threat in the area between Oxford Circus and Regent Street in central London prompted police intervention and the evacuation of several offices and shops. Westminster Police checked a vehicle and called in a bomb squad to carry out a ‘precautionary controlled explosion’ of suspicious objects, according to eyewitnesses and some local media reports. The area has since been temporarily cordoned off and closed to traffic. The incident in central London was confirmed by the Metropolitan Police, who stated that it was a false alarm and that there was no evidence of a terrorist attack. UK media outlets have released images of the vehicle involved, which show shattered windows and a damaged trunk following the intervention of the bomb squad. It has been reported that the situation has gradually been restored to its previous state, as asserted by an official representative of Scotland Yard.