Westminster on LOCKDOWN: Police swoop in after 'suspicious vehicle' found in London

Officers and a specialist team from the London Metropolitan Police raced to the scene following reports of the vehicle on Saturday. Police closed off the Victoria Embankment fro 3.15pm and are currently on the scene. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “An area of the Victoria Embankment has been closed off after a suspicious vehicle was found. Officers closed off the area at 15.15. They remain on the scene.”

Witnesses flocked to social media to share what they saw as the road was closed off.

One said: “Westminster bridge and Embankment closed - people being held back behind cordon at Parliament Square. No comment from police, but scores of officers being driven in.”

Another said it was a “bomb threat”.

He tweeted: “Bomb threat in London. Police everywhere. Package found Westminister now closed. New Scotland Yard and Circle Line apparently closed.”

Another person tweeted: “#westminster bridge and Embankment closed, hearing reports of a suspicious vehicle. Very large police presence.”

Witnesses also reported the River Thames has been closed, meaning no boats or ships are able to pass through.

Police helicopters are also on the scene.

The news follows a counter-terror police investigation into three firebombs sent to Heathrow Airport, City Airport and Waterloo station just days ago.

All three devices were sent from Irish addresses and bore Irish postmarks as confirmed by security services.

Following the attack which did no harm, a Whitehall source did confirm that an Irish dissident group could be at the centre of the attempted attack.

The source told the Daily Telegraph: “At least one of the packages had a Dublin postmark on it and we are linking the three packages. Clearly the possibility that they were sent by some sort of dissident group can't be discounted.”

Following the attack, a spokesman for Ireland's Garda police also confirmed that they were assisting Metropolitan Police with their current investigation.

Police later confirmed on Twitter the vehicle was eventually deemed not suspicious. 

Roads are currently being re-opened.