Police have closed Kensington Gardens after a video claimed drones carrying “radioactive and cancer-causing materials” were launched towards the Israeli Embassy in London.
Officers sealed off the park and set up cordons as teams began assessing a number of discarded items found at the scene. Police vans, a white tent and officers in protective clothing were visible inside the gardens.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed an increased presence in the area, with counter-terrorism officers leading enquiries into the incident.
Authorities moved to reassure the public, stating they do not believe there is an increased safety risk at this stage, but urged people to avoid the area while investigations continue.
The development follows the release of a video by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which appeared to show individuals in protective suits handling drones before one took off from what looked like a local park.
The group claimed it had launched drones carrying hazardous materials towards the nearby Israeli Embassy. Police have confirmed the embassy was not attacked.
Investigators are now working to determine whether the video is genuine and whether there is any link between the footage and the items discovered in Kensington Gardens.
The group has previously claimed responsibility for a number of incidents linked to the wider conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, including an arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity.
However, analysts have raised questions about the group credibility, noting unusual language used in its messaging, including references to Palestine as “the land of Israel”, which is not typical of an Iran alligned pro-Palestinian organisation.