Kensington Gardens shut by police over major investigation as public urged to stay away

Kensington Gardens has been shut by police as officers have advised the public to stay away from the Royal Park.

Officers from the Met Police are investigating "a number of discarded items" at the London park.

Cordons are in place and there is no public access to the gardens and the surrounding area.

One eyewitness told MyLondon there was a forensics team by the bandstand near the middle of the park.

A Met Police spokesman said: "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."

Detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London said they were aware of a video posted online overnight in which a group claim to have targeted the nearby Israeli Embassy with drones carrying dangerous substances.

Officers from the Met Police confirmed that the Embassy has not been attacked.

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A Royal Parks spokesman said: "Due to an ongoing police investigation, Kensington Gardens will be closed to the public today.

"We respectfully ask that people avoid the area until further notice. Thank you."

Eyewitnesses said three officers were working in protective gear next to the Round Pond.

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.

A video, which appears to have been posted by Iran-linked Islamist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, shows a target over an image of the Israeli embassy, before people could be seen in the footage posted online dressed in hazmat suits flying drones.

Police said the embassy had not been attacked, but said detectives were carrying out enquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items discarded in Kensington Gardens.

A spokesman from the Israeli embassy has confirmed its staff are safe and remains in contact with the Met Police.

They said: "A suspected security incident is being investigated in the park adjacent to the Embassy of Israel in London. We wish to clarify that all Embassy staff are safe and that the Embassy was not attacked. As always we remain in close and continuous contact with the local authorities."