Bomb experts have closed off a busy London street and evacuated part of the BBC’s offices after reports of a suspicious vehicle.
The car – parked near the central reservation – sparked panic with Portland Place, just north of Oxford Circus Tube station, cordoned off.
A ‘bomb robot’ was deployed to smash the car’s windows while police investigated.
But after it was quickly established there was no risk, the operation was stood down and it emerged the motor actually belonged to a BBC employee.
A ‘bomb robot’ was deployed to smash the car’s windows while police investigated
Dramatic pictures from the scene show teams using a bomb robot to investigate the car
Dozens of staff members, who work at an office overlooking the street, took to Twitter to live-tweet the police operation unfolding before them.
Unfortunately for one member of staff, he quickly realised it was his car caught up in the drama – and had to watch as his windows were smashed in one by one.
Chris Hemmings, who works for the Victoria Derbyshire programme, tweeted as the situation developed.
He tweeted pictures of a robot approaching the car where it fired a shot into the passenger’s window, writing: ‘There’s a bomb robot outside the BBC. It’s just fired a shot in to a car window and is now inspecting the back seat. Told there may be a controlled explosion carried out.’
But around half an hour later he updated his followers to say: ‘So, apparently the car belongs to someone who sits on our floor. All his windows have been smashed in and a guy is now searching it.’
Chris Hemmings, who works for the Victoria Derbyshire programme, tweeted as the situation developed
The Met Police said they believed there may be a suspicious item inside the car and evacuated one of the offices and street as a precaution
Images from the scene show the robot being deployed as people in surrounding buildings looked on anxiously
The car – parked near the central reservation – sparked panic with Portland Place, just north of Oxford Circus Tube station, cordoned off
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
The Met Police said they believed there may be a suspicious item inside the car and evacuated one of the offices and street as a precaution.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called at approximately 10.38am to reports of a suspicious vehicle.
‘Officers are on scene and cordons are in place while the incident is dealt with.’