The British police had on Friday said that a suspicious package left outside the U.S. embassy in London, and blown up in a controlled explosion, was a hoax device, according to its original indications.
Police had previously carried out a controlled explosion near the embassy building, a 12-storey purpose-built glass cube in Nine Elms, south London, and sealed off some areas.
The embassy eventually returned to normal operations after London’s Metropolitan Police said that the “Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.”
“Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.” The police added.
The U.S embassy on the other hand said it was back to normal business operations but that all public appointments for Friday had been annulled.
“Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the Embassy,” the embassy said.
In 2018, the United States moved its embassy from Mayfair, central London, to Nine Elms partly because of safety and security reasons.
The formerly industrial area is now home to dozens of upmarket apartment buildings alongside Battersea Power Station, a 1930s-era building notable for its red brick and white chimneys, and has been redeveloped as a shopping and tourist centre.
