No hazardous substances detected near Israeli embassy following drone threat | News UK

UK MORNING BRIEFING Today, forensic officers continue investigations in Kensington Gardens following the discovery of suspicious items near the Israeli embassy. The area has reopened after initial assessments deemed the items non-hazardous.

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No hazardous substances detected near Israeli embassy following drone threat | News UK

Get you up to speed: No hazardous substances detected near Israeli embassy following drone threat | News UK

SECURITY INCIDENT
Counter Terrorism Policing London is investigating suspicious items near the Israeli embassy in Kensington Gardens, which were assessed as non-hazardous.
TERRORISM ALERT
Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London confirmed ongoing inquiries following the discovery of non-hazardous items near the Israeli embassy, assuring public safety.
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Counter Terrorism Policing London is continuing inquiries related to suspicious items near the Israeli embassy while maintaining security cooperation with the embassy’s team.

What we know so far

Suspicious items found near the Israeli embassy in central London have been assessed as non-hazardous. The investigation into the discarded items prompted a significant police presence in Kensington Gardens, which was cordoned off since Friday morning.

Commander Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said, “We recognise this incident and consequent police activity may have caused concern among local residents and the wider public. We are grateful to them for their understanding while our work was undertaken.” The park reopened on Saturday.

While no attack occurred, police continue to collaborate with the embassy’s security team to ensure safety. Various emergency services, including a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear team, responded to the scene as a precaution.

This incident follows claims by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia of responsibility for other attacks in the area. However, police are not linking this investigation with an attempted arson at a synagogue in Finchley earlier this week.

Read in full

No hazardous materials found near Israeli embassy after drone attack threat | News UK

Forensic police officers in Kensington Gardens, central London. The whole of the park is cordoned off and has been closed since Friday morning, as police investigate whether items discarded near the Israeli embassy are linked to a video saying an attack on the embassy was planned. The WTXpolitan Police said there was an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens as officers in protective clothing investigated a number of discarded items and have urged people to avoid the area while they carry out their work. Picture date: Friday April 17, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Forensic officers in Kensington Gardens as police investigate whether items discarded near the Israeli embassy are linked to a video saying an attack on the embassy was planned (Picture: PA)

Suspicious items found near the Israeli embassy in central London have been assessed as non-hazardous.

The park reopened on Saturday.

Commander Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: ‘We recognise this incident and consequent police activity may have caused concern among local residents and the wider public. We are grateful to them for their understanding while our work was undertaken.

Police officers in Kensington Gardens, central London. The whole of the park is cordoned off and has been closed since Friday morning, as police investigate whether items discarded near the Israeli embassy are linked to a video saying an attack on the embassy was planned. The WTXpolitan Police said there was an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens as officers in protective clothing investigated a number of discarded items and have urged people to avoid the area while they carry out their work. Picture date: Friday April 17, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
The whole of the park was cordoned off as officers in protective clothing investigated a number of discarded items (Picture: PA)

‘This work is being carried out by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London and our inquiries remain ongoing.

‘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.’

A van belonging to the WTXpolitan Police’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear team was near the bandstand in Kensington Gardens on Friday, around 500m away from the embassy.

A fire investigation unit from London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team were also present at the scene, as were divers from the Met’s underwater and confined space search team.

It comes after Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia – which is suspected of being Iran-backed – also claimed responsibility for other arson attacks in north London.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (16833995t) Police on the scene as they close down Kensington Gardens after a group claimed they targeted the nearby Israeli embassy with dangerous substances using drones. Police officers investigated discarded items found in the park and the embassy was reportedly not attacked. HEADLINE CORRECTION: Police Close Down Kensington Gardens, London, England, United Kingdom - 17 Apr 2026
The park reopened on Saturday (Picture: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)

Latest London news

To get the latest news from the capital, visit WTX’s London news hub.

Hostile states including Iran have used criminal proxies to carry out acts in the UK before.

A teenage boy and two men were arrested after the latest attack at the offices of a Persian media organisation in Wembley.

Police are not linking the attack to an attempted arson at a synagogue in Finchley earlier this week, or the torching of Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green last month.

Counter-terror police are also investigating a suspected arson attack at a building said to be formerly used by the Jewish community in Hendon on Friday night.

Kensington Palace, where the Prince and Princess of Wales used to have their main home, is located on the western edge of Kensington Gardens.

Staff from the royal couple’s household based at the historic site are still at work there.

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