Police in protective gear are investigating whether items found near the Israeli embassy in central London are linked to a video which was posted online claiming it was going to be attacked.
The Metropolitan Police cordoned off Kensington Gardens, close to the Embassy of Israel, on Friday while officers are “assessing a number of discarded items”, the force said.
The closure comes after a video shared online overnight threatened to target the embassy with drones carrying dangerous substances. Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of the claims.
There is not believed to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but people are urged to avoid the area while officers carry out their work, the Met added.
“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,” a police statement said. “We will provide further updates when we are able to.”
A spokesperson from the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom 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,” the statement read. “As always we remain in close and continuous contact with the local authorities.”
Police also responded to “speculation about an incident at the Israeli Embassy” on Wednesday and said they were liaising with security teams.
"Separately we are aware of speculation about an incident at the Israeli Embassy in London yesterday,” said deputy commissioner Matt Jukes. "There has been no incident at that location, but we can confirm we have been liaising with security teams there in relation to their security.”
It comes after three arson attacks in north west London in the past month, two of which the Metropolitan Police are investigating as antisemitic hate crimes.
Police are investigating an arson attack on four volunteer‑led ambulances run by the Jewish community in Golders Green on 23 March, as well as an attempted arson attack at a synagogue in Finchley shortly after midnight on Wednesday, and an arson attack on the offices of a Persian-language media organisation in north west London that evening.
All three incidents are being investigated by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London, but none have been declared as terrorist incidents. Officers retain an open mind in respect of any motivation behind any of the attacks, the force said.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said: “These incidents have happened against an operational backdrop of global instability and sustained and increasingly aggressive hostile activity on UK soil.
“Whilst these investigations are ongoing and we’re progressing multiple lines of enquiry, I understand why our communities here in the UK will be concerned to learn of these arson attacks.”
She continued that the number of national security investigations had reached an unprecedented level, but promised parties involved would face justice.
“We are now dealing with an unprecedented level of national security investigations with suspected links to foreign states, many of those with dangerous and often reckless intentions,” she said. “I want to reassure our communities that Counter Terrorism Policing will be relentless in tracing those responsible for these acts of violence on our streets.
“If you are part of this activity, then know that you will be caught, and you will face justice.
“Anyone with information about any of the incidents this week, please speak to the police.”
