Trafalgar Square evacuated due to controlled explosion hours before Jubilee concert

4 June 2022, 11:12 | Updated: 4 June 2022, 13:52

Trafalgar Square was evacuated so police could carry out a controlled explosion after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle.

Photos on social media show a police cordon in the area, and witnesses reported that police said they were carrying out a "controlled detonation".

Police confirmed the incident was not terror-related.

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One onlooker said he was "rushed" out of a hotel and saw a vehicle with all four windows smashed.

He said he heard a "loud boom" once he was moved to the other side of the Square, and said there was "no panic" and that "police seemed to have it under control".

Another witness said it was "extremely frightening", adding: "My heart is still racing so badly."

Police confirmed the Square had been evacuated, adding later that the incident had "concluded".

A car with smashed windows was seen being removed from the scene shortly afterwards.

In a statement the Metropolitan Police said: "Police attended a report from a member of the public at 09:22hrs of a suspicious vehicle in Trafalgar Square.

"This was investigated and after police took action we have no further concern.

"This was not terrorism related."

The force added: "We encourage everyone to share with police any concerns they might have whilst out and about. Please remain vigilant."

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The Met confirmed earlier the incident had been stood down, saying: "Police remain on scene. The incident has now been concluded and the square will reopen in due course."

The ambulance service said they had not been called to the scene.

The incident happened happened less than a mile from Buckingham Palace, where the Platinum Jubilee is due to take place later on Saturday.

Thousands of people will gather in the area for the star-studded event.

Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, George Ezra, and Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder are among the celebrity acts preparing to entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge will also take to the stage at the event, to publicly play tribute to the Queen.