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Waterloo and Westminster Bridges shut over 'WWII device' Suspected World War Two bomb removed from River Thames
(about 9 hours later)
Two bridges and a major road in central London were closed when a suspected "WWII device" was discovered in the River Thames. A suspected unexploded World War Two bomb found in the River Thames has been recovered for safe disposal.
Victoria Embankment, Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge were shut for police to investigate. The operation by the Royal Navy and Metropolitan Police forced Waterloo Bridge, Westminster Bridge and Victoria Embankment in central London to shut.
Witnesses said "massive crowds" gathered in the area when Westminster Tube station also closed. Westminster Police said the device was "being towed for safe disposal/removal elsewhere" as they reopened the riverfront at about 03:00 GMT.
Diversions were put in place when officers arrived on the scene at 17:15 GMT, the Met said. Police were called to the river at 17:15 GMT on Thursday.
A spokesman said specialist officers remain at the scene assessing the device which has been dredged up from the river. The Port of London Authority said the suspected bomb measured "2ft by 1ft" (60cm x 30cm).
A spokesperson for the Port of London Authority said they had been told the device measured "2 ft by 1 ft" (60cm x 30cm). The device has been referred to as an "ordnance" which in armed forces terms can refer to either explosive weapons or ammunition.
The suspected device has been referred to as an "ordnance' which in armed forces terms can refer to either explosive weapons or ammunition. Kris Van de Sander, a freelance journalist from Belgium, told the BBC "massive crowds" had spread around Westminster Bridge.
Kris Van de Sander, a freelance journalist from Belgium, told the BBC "massive crowds" had spread around Westminster Bridge after roads and the Tube station closed. He said: "Everyone was a little paranoid."
"Everyone was a little paranoid" he added. Westminster Tube station was shut but has since reopened, as have the bridges, all surrounding roads and a section of the river between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge which had been closed overnight.
A section of the river between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge is expected to remain closed overnight, MBNA Thames Clippers tweeted. Woody Harrelson
But Westminster station has since reopened as have the bridges and most surrounding roads. The disruption had threatened to derail Lost In London, a "live cinema" project by Woody Harrelson.
The US actor planned to recreate a disastrous night out in the capital with the film broadcast directly into cinemas from location.
Some scenes were shot near Waterloo Bridge, but the event went ahead as planned.
In November, a shopping centre and homes were evacuated and ferry services halted when a World War Two bomb was found in Portsmouth Harbour.
The device was towed out to sea and blown up.
An unexploded World War Two bomb was also uncovered by builders near Wembley Stadium in north-west London in 2015.
The Army said it posed "a genuine risk to life" but it was removed by a specialist team and safely detonated.