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London Bridge station evacuated after police alerted to 'suspicious vehicle' London Bridge station evacuated after police alerted to 'suspicious vehicle'
(35 minutes later)
London Bridge railway and underground stations have been closed off and evacuated due to a "suspicious vehicle". London Bridge railway and underground stations were closed off and evacuated due to an abandoned and smashed up VW Polo.
The Metropolitan Police Service says the entire area is off limits because of a "suspicious vehicle" and an eyewitness meanwhile has described a bomb disposal unit at the scene. The entire area was off limits for around one hour from 1.40pm, leaving hundreds of people crowded at the police cordon, because the vehicle was deemed "suspicious" by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Southern Rail says trains at London Bridge are sitting in situ, and incoming trains are terminating at New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, East Croydon and Bermondsey An eyewitness described how a bomb disposal robot was deployed and a Met Police officer later confirmed nothing suspicious was found.
"We were called to London Bridge Street shortly before 1.40pm because of a security alert," said a spokeswoman. Southern Rail said trains at London Bridge had to sit in situ, and incoming trains terminated at New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, East Croydon and Bermondsey.
"The train station has been closed as a precaution because we believe that there is a vehicle there that is suspicious." Jubilee and Northern Line tube trains were running as normal but not stopping at the busy Thames-side station.
Witness Felix Meller described how hundreds have been evacuated from the station, some running out in confusion, and how hundreds are still crowding around the cordon and spilling onto the road. A journalist at The Times, which has offices in the News UK building opposite the station, claimed police said it was down to a stolen vehicle abandoned in a taxi rank.
Witness Felix Meller described how hundreds were evacuated from the station, some running out in confusion, and how hundreds were still crowding around the cordon and spilling onto the road.
The 34-year-old said he was crossing London Bridge from The Monument, when the road was closed off to traffic, before he was evacuated while trying to use a nearby gym.The 34-year-old said he was crossing London Bridge from The Monument, when the road was closed off to traffic, before he was evacuated while trying to use a nearby gym.
"I then went into the station but a minute after that the whole station was evacuated," said the recruitment firm owner."I then went into the station but a minute after that the whole station was evacuated," said the recruitment firm owner.
"One woman started running and everyone then followed. It was a nerve-racking moment because you don't know what's going on. It's herd mentality."One woman started running and everyone then followed. It was a nerve-racking moment because you don't know what's going on. It's herd mentality.
"One or two security staff were then shouting from inside the station.""One or two security staff were then shouting from inside the station."
He added: "There are now hundreds of people watching and hanging around. Everyone in the News UK building appears to have been evacuated but I can still see some people in the Shard.He added: "There are now hundreds of people watching and hanging around. Everyone in the News UK building appears to have been evacuated but I can still see some people in the Shard.
"Everyone is streaming out of the station now, but police officers are asking people to clear away from the top concourse between the Shard and the station.""Everyone is streaming out of the station now, but police officers are asking people to clear away from the top concourse between the Shard and the station."
Mr Meller said he saw what appears to be a robotic bomb disposal unit being driven from the station, towards a police vehicle, at around 3.15pm.Mr Meller said he saw what appears to be a robotic bomb disposal unit being driven from the station, towards a police vehicle, at around 3.15pm.
More follows... A Met Police spokesman said: "After checking it out we found it was no longer suspicious."