LONDON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that there is no evidence the Israeli Embassy in London has been attacked, as officers investigate suspicious items found in Kensington Gardens.
There is an increased police presence in the area, where officers are assessing a number of discarded items. As a precaution, some of the deployed officers are wearing protective clothing, said the police in a statement.
Cordons have been put in place and there is currently no public access to Kensington Gardens and the surrounding area. The police have urged residents and the wider public to avoid the location while officers carry out their work.
"We recognise this may concern local residents and the wider public," the police said, adding that they do not believe there is any increased risk to public safety at this stage.
Counter Terrorism Policing London said it is aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claims to have targeted the nearby Israeli embassy with drones carrying dangerous substances.
"While we can confirm that the embassy has not been attacked, we are carrying out urgent enquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items discarded in Kensington Gardens," the police said. ■