Fri Nov 22 17:38:52 UTC 2024: ## Hoax Device Triggers Controlled Explosion Outside US Embassy, Gatwick Airport Evacuated
**London, November 22, 2024** – A controlled explosion was carried out by London’s Metropolitan Police outside the US Embassy in Nine Elms today following the discovery of a suspicious package. Police confirmed the package was later determined to be a hoax device. The incident prompted the closure of nearby roads and a significant police response, including a bomb disposal unit.
The Met Police initially announced an investigation into a “suspect package” near the embassy, setting up cordons as a precaution. A loud bang heard in the area was subsequently confirmed as the controlled explosion conducted by officers. The US Embassy also confirmed the incident and stated local authorities were investigating.
Separately, a major security incident at Gatwick Airport led to the evacuation of a large part of the south terminal for over four hours. A suspected prohibited item found in luggage triggered the alert and the deployment of a bomb disposal unit. Numerous flights were cancelled or delayed as a result. The airport reopened to staff and passengers later in the afternoon after police declared the security alert resolved.
While both incidents involved significant security responses, both the suspicious package at the US Embassy and the prohibited item at Gatwick Airport were determined to pose no actual threat. The reasons for the hoax device and the prohibited item remain under investigation.
First Piper 