21 Oct 2016

Police explode suspicious item on London tube

12:43 pm on 21 October 2016

British police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious item found at a London underground station yesterday and say counter-terrorism officers have launched an investigation.

Police were called after rail staff reported finding the item on a train at North Greenwich underground station mid-morning, close to the O2 entertainment centre and not far from near the Canary Wharf financial district.

A controlled detonation was carried out to make the item safe and officers from London's Counter Terrorism Command have taken the lead in the investigation, police said.

North Greenwhich station on the London underground.

London's Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into the item found at North Greenwich station. Photo: 123RF

The North Greenwich underground station was evacuated but has since reopened, police said.

"We're keeping an open mind at the moment," a spokesman for the British Transport Police said, declining to give any further details.

Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe", meaning an attack is considered highly likely.

The Jubilee underground line was partially closed for more than four hours after the discovery of the package.

-Reuters

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