Need to know
Part of Westminster was cordoned off by police and a bomb disposal squad was deployed over a ‘suspicious package’
Here’s everything we know about the incident that prompted a bomb squad to be deployed at Westminster today:
- A bomb squad descended on part of Westminster after a “suspicious package” was spotted outside the Houses of Parliament on Thursday morning (December 18). Metropolitan Police officers were alerted to the unattended item near the Knife Edge sculpture on College Green park shortly before 7.30am.
- The force swung into action, placing the area on lockdown and evacuating members of the public on College Green while a bomb disposal squad, including specialist officers and a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot, investigated the package. The area from Jewel Tower to Millbank House was cordoned off.
- One witness said they were largely unconcerned, telling The Telegraph: “It didn’t look particularly threatening, and once the robot had gone in, we were back on the green after about 45 minutes. We were told at first that we could go round the corner, but after a while we were asked to move further away.”
- Using the robot, officers carefully inspected the item from a distance and soon deemed it to be non-suspicious. A Met Police spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror that the incident had been stood down, with people allowed back on the grass at about 8.15am.
- In a welcome turn of events, it was revealed that the “suspicious item” was in fact a Christmas package. Sky News journalists at Westminster shared images showing the contents – piles upon piles of unsent festive cards. The name of Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh was written on the package, and the broadcaster understands she had been expecting the package to be delivered but it never arrived – instead plunging Westminster into lockdown.
READ THE FULL STORY: Westminster emergency LIVE: Bomb squad deployed as area on lockdown
