Police have closed a London park after an Islamist ‘terror cell’ claimed drones carrying ‘radioactive and cancer-causing materials’ had been launched towards the Israeli embassy.
The Met Police confirmed there is an ‘increased police presence’ at Kensington Gardens as officers assess ‘a number of discarded items’.
Officers wearing protective suits and gas masks were pictured in the park just before 9am.
A van belonging to the Metropolitan Police’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) team, a fire investigation unit from the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team are also present at the scene.
It comes after group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia appeared to claim it had aimed two drones carrying ‘radioactive and dangerous carcinogenic material’ towards the nearby Israeli embassy.
In a video released by the group, two people dressed in white hazmat-style suits handled drones adorned with its logo.
Footage, which appeared to have been filmed in a local park, then showed a drone taking off into the evening sky.
The Met Police said in a statement that counter-terrorism officers are ‘aware’ of the claims but said the embassy had not been attacked.
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for a series of incidents since the start of the conflict between the US and Israel and Iran, including the arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity.
It has also claimed recent attempted arson attacks at a synagogue in Finchley and an Iranian TV station in Wembley which is critical of the regime.
In its video, the group said it has ‘moved to the second phase of operations’.
The gates to Kensington Gardens were shut this morning, with signs informing the public that the park is closed.
‘Hazardous conditions – do not enter’, the sign added.
Police vans and a white tent were visible at the scene, as were officers wearing protective clothing.
In a statement released on Friday, the Met Police said: ‘There is an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens and officers are assessing a number of discarded items.
‘As a precaution, some of the officers who have been deployed are wearing protective clothing. We recognise this may concern local residents and the wider public.
‘We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but we would urge people to avoid the area while officers carry out their work.
‘There are cordons in place and there is no public access to the gardens and the surrounding area.
‘Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claim to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.
‘While we can confirm that the Embassy has not been attacked, 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.’
In a statement on social media, Kensington Gardens confirmed it would be closed for the day.
‘Due to an ongoing police investigation, Kensington Gardens will be closed to the public today,’ the statement read.
‘We respectfully ask that people avoid the area until further notice. Thank you.
‘Hyde Park and West Carriage Drive remain open. Serpentine Galleries can be access from West Carriage Drive’.
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which translates to ‘Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right’, is also known as Ashab al-Yamin.
It is believed to be linked to Iran’s proxy groups and has claimed responsibility for incidents across Europe in recent weeks.
It was first heard of when it said it was behind an explosion at the front of a synagogye in the Belgian city of Liege on March 9.
Its insignia, bearing a raised arm with a rifle pointing right with a globe slightly faded in the background, is very similar to the IRGC’s, Lebanese Hezbollah and Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq.
The right hand is typically associated with divine favour, honour and righteousness in Islamic culture.
Featuring the right hand will lend the group’s imagery to a spiritual mission, rather than an ideological pursuit, according to experts.
