British counter-terrorism officers in protective suits inspect a scene near the Israeli embassy in London after police said an anonymous group claimed to have targeted the building with a drone carrying dangerous goods.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were examining items found nearby and whether they were linked to the claims made in the online video.
A video circulating online shows an unidentified person wearing a hazmat suit operating two drones. The video, allegedly posted by a mysterious pro-Iranian group, claims the embassy was targeted, but does not show the actual attack.
Police said: “While we can confirm that the embassy was not attacked, we are carrying out an urgent investigation to confirm the authenticity of the video and to determine if it is linked to the items dumped in Kensington Gardens.”
London police confirm increased police presence near Israeli embassy
London police confirm increased police presence near Israeli embassy
1:03
Royal Parks, the charity that runs Kensington Gardens, has announced that the park will be closed until further notice.
Kensington Gardens is a popular tourist destination in central London. The park is adjacent to Kensington Palace, home to members of the British royal family.
Witnesses told CNN there was a heavy police presence earlier in the day, but by early afternoon only about six officers remained at the scene. Some were armed, an unusual sight in London where most police officers do not routinely carry guns.
A police van was parked in front of the embassy, its view partially covered by a screen.
News of the investigation comes as anti-terrorist police forces say they are investigating and making arrests in connection with three recent arson attacks in London. One incident was an attack on a Jewish community ambulance last month, and the other was an attempted arson attack on a synagogue and an arson attack on the offices of a Farsi-language media organization on Wednesday.
