Central London, tube station lockdown ends after ‘suspicious package’ deemed not a threat

Published time: 5 Dec, 2017 11:27 Edited time: 6 Dec, 2017 07:28

St Paul's underground station in the London's financial district was closed as police responded to a security alert in the area. Reuters have reported that the item being investigated in the area has now been deemed non-suspicious, and roads have started to reopen.

Suspicious package at #stpauls. Police dogs present. pic.twitter.com/OEHMlx5lOh
— Latif Yahya (@LatifYahya) December 5, 2017

A spokesman for City of London Police told media on Tuesday that they were "in attendance in St Martin's Le Grand (EC1) following a report of a suspicious package inside a building. Called at 10.23am."

The street was cordoned off and people were advised to avoid the surrounding area. Some shops and businesses were reportedly evacuated.

Nearby office workers said were told to keep away from windows and stay inside, others shared pictures of colleagues gathered on stairwells as emergency procedures were implemented.

St Pauls is in lockdown. ‘Suspicious package’ and police everywhere!
— Niall James (@NiallJames8787) December 5, 2017

Assume my meeting will be cancelled! #StPauls in lockdown for a security alert. Police at the cordon say it could be 10 mins or 4 hours. pic.twitter.com/G7m5CzKtOR
— Andi Jarvis (@andijarvis) December 5, 2017

Always nice when the police close all the roads surrounding your office and have the sniffer dogs out ... 😳 #lunchinsidetoday #stpauls
A post shared by George (@georgeburgess1) on Dec 5, 2017 at 2:50am PST

City of London Police attended a building in St Martin's Le Grand, near St Paul's, but police have now confirmed that the item that sparked the lockdown has been deemed as non-suspicious.