London police declared a powdered substance found near the Israeli embassy non-hazardous on Friday [1, 2].
The incident triggered a security lockdown in a high-profile diplomatic area, highlighting the sensitivity of embassy security amid ongoing regional tensions.
Metropolitan Police officers responded to the scene at Kensington Gardens after an online claim suggested drones had targeted the embassy site [4, 5]. As a precaution, authorities closed the park to the public while specialists examined the materials found on the ground [1, 3].
Following the investigation, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said, "We have found no hazardous substances in the items discovered near the Israeli embassy" [1]. The police confirmed that zero hazardous substances were identified in the items [1].
Another spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said, "No hazardous items were found near the Israeli embassy after the drone attack claim" [2]. The investigation concluded that the site remained secure and the public was no longer at risk.
A commander of counter-terrorism policing said, "While the Embassy of Israel was not attacked, we continue to work closely with the Embassy and its security team to keep the site safe and secure" [2].
Kensington Gardens reopened to the public following the clearance of the site [3]. The police did not specify the exact nature of the powdered substance, only that it posed no threat to public safety.
“"No hazardous items were found near the Israeli embassy after the drone attack claim."”
The rapid deployment of counter-terrorism resources in response to an online claim demonstrates the high state of alert surrounding diplomatic missions in London. While the lack of hazardous materials suggests the threat was unfounded, the closure of a major public space like Kensington Gardens underscores the priority given to embassy security over public access during potential security breaches.
