Armed police reopen Victoria Embankment and Westminster Bridge after reports of 'suspicious vehicle'

  • Officers from Metropolitan Police remain at scene after being called at 3.15pm
  • Members of the public being held at a cordon near Parliament Square 
  • Buses have been diverted and river boat services are not calling at Westminster pier or Waterloo pier 

By Harry Howard For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Armed police have been stood down after earlier cordoning off an area near Victoria Embankment following reports of a suspicious vehicle which has now been deemed not to be a threat. 

Westminster Bridge was also closed in the disruption and members of the public were being held at a cordon near Parliament Square.  

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were at the scene after being called at 3.15pm today.

Armed police have descended on an area near Victoria Embankment following reports of a suspicious vehicle

Armed police have descended on an area near Victoria Embankment following reports of a suspicious vehicle

Officers surround a suspicious vehicle parked outside New Scotland Yard following a probe by the bomb disposal unit

Officers surround a suspicious vehicle parked outside New Scotland Yard following a probe by the bomb disposal unit

Police kept a watchful eye on the scene as fears were raised about the suspicious vehicle - which was later deemed not to be a threat to the public

Police kept a watchful eye on the scene as fears were raised about the suspicious vehicle - which was later deemed not to be a threat to the public

Pictured: Victoria Embankment. Westminster Bridge were also been closed in the disruption and members of the public had to be held at a cordon near Parliament Square

Pictured: Victoria Embankment. Westminster Bridge were also been closed in the disruption and members of the public had to be held at a cordon near Parliament Square

Buses on routes 12, 53, 148, 159, 211 and 453 were also diverted and a tweet from Thames Clippers, which runs the city's River Bus, read: 'Westminster pier is currently closed. Passengers will not be able to embark or disembark at Westminster Pier.'   

The St Thomas' Hospital and County Hall bus stops were also closed. 

The latest alert comes just days since three small bombs were found in packages at Heathrow, London City Airport and Waterloo stations.

All three were stamped with 'Love Ireland' stickers, raising the possibility of Irish dissident involvement.  

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