Group claims to have dropped radioactive material on Israeli embassy in Kensington

Counter terrorism police are investigating after a video of drones carrying ‘dangerous substances’ allegedly targeted the Israel Embassy in west London last night.

The Metropolitan Police said they have blocked off public access to Kensington Gardens, which is the park next to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ London base of Kensington Palace and yards from the Israeli Embassy, after several ‘discarded items’ were found in the park.

They added that some officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing, and while they do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, they are urging people to avoid the area.

The Israeli embassy said in a statement that it was not attacked and staff are safe.

Signs containing the warning ‘Hazardous conditions – do not enter’ have been installed on fencing around the park, which is often used for dog walkers, families and tourists to sit and relax in.

A van belonging to the Metropolitan Police’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) team is currently near the bandstand.

A fire investigation unit from the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team are at the scene.

Metro saw dog walkers looking confused as they tried to enter but were being prevented from doing so by Royal Parks staff.

One dog walker who uses the park told Metro: ‘It’s like something out of a movie. It’s very frightening to think someone may have flown a drone in carrying radioactive material.

‘This area is always covered by loads of police because of Kensington Palace and the Israeli embassy.It’s hard to believe someone could have done this undetected.’

The staff are informing people the park is closed, but are declining to say any more.

Jack Newman, a tourist from the US, told Metro: ‘This is just a shock. We love London and have felt safe.

‘Our main worry was pickpockets or phone thieves. This is just crazy.’

Last night the Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya – known as The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand – posted a video online with footage of two people wearing hazmat suits before a drone is seen being set off in a park.

Alongside the footage, it contained the statement: ‘Warning. The embassy of the Zionist regime in London has been targeted by two drones carrying radioactive and carcinogenic materials.

‘Please stay 900 metres away from the location and do not pass through there due to the presence of radioactive materials.’

The video then shows two people wearing hazmat suits with two drones that have jam jars inside them.

They are then seen inside a park launching the drones while music plays in the background.

The video has not yet been verified.

The area, which includes the Israeli and Russian embassies, and Kensington Palace, is covered by dozens of Met Police officers and private security cameras.

A private security worker, who is a former soldier, told Metro: ‘If you are planning an attack, this is not the place to do it.We work round the clock and have camera footage.

‘The Israelis are understandably very good at security as well.’

Another security guard said: ‘When I came on shift there were police everywhere.

‘It was all concentrated on the park.The Israeli embassy is business as usual.’

A construction worker on a job close to the embassy said: ‘There have been cops on the street here near the embassy. If there was a drone, it didn’t make it here.

‘I’ve seen fellas in the hazmat suits – it’s rightening really.Not what I expected when I came to work.’

The closure of the park comes after three arrests were made following an attempted arson attack at the offices of a Persian language media organisation in Park Royal, north London, on Wednesday.

There have also been two separate attacks on a synagogue in Finchley, north London, and on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in recent weeks.

In a statement, the Met Police said: ‘There is an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens and officers are assessing a number of discarded items.

‘As a precaution, some of the officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing.

‘We recognise this may concern local residents and the wider public.

‘We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but we would urge people to avoid the area while officers carry out their work.

‘There are cordons in place and there is no public access to the gardens and the surrounding area.

‘Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claim to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.

‘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.

‘We will provide further updates when we are able to.’

A spokeswoman for The Royal Parks said: ‘Due to an ongoing police investigation, Kensington Gardens will be closed to the public today. We respectfully ask that people avoid the area until further notice.’

The Israeli embassy 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.

‘As always we remain in close and continuous contact with the local authorities.’

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