Kensington Gardens Closed for Police Item Probe Near Embassy

London's Kensington Gardens, a popular park adjacent to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, was closed to the public on April 17 as police investigated a number of discarded items near the Israeli Embassy. The Metropolitan Police deployed an increased presence, including officers in protective clothing, to assess the items, which authorities linked to an online video claiming a drone attack on the embassy with dangerous substances.

The video, shared overnight, prompted urgent enquiries by Counter Terrorism Policing London. Police confirmed the embassy had not been attacked but were examining the footage's authenticity and any connection to the discarded items. "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 Met Police stated. Officers emphasized there was no increased public safety risk but urged people to avoid the area while the investigation continued.

Cordons were established around the park and surrounding neighborhoods, restricting access throughout the day. Witnesses reported seeing a forensics team near the central bandstand and officers in...