Two suspected BOMBS are found in a disused London flat

Two suspected bombs have been found in a disused flat in north-west London, sparking a large counter-terror operation. 

Two suspicious items were found at a flat in Craven Park, Harlesden, this morning and are believed to be improvised explosive devices.

The flat was evacuated and the area cordoned off while detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command launched an investigation. 

The two devices were subsequently made safe and recovered from the flat and are now undergoing further forensic examination.

A police car and a tent outside the flat in Craven Park where police were called to reports of suspicious items. The Met’s counter-terror command has taken over the investigation

Further searches were also conducted around the flat, which was in the process of being refurbished, and the area has now been deemed safe.

Cordons around the block of flats – which are located just opposite Harlesden’s police station – were not lifted until 6pm at which point residents were able to return to their homes. 

Detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are now leading the investigation, a police statement said. 

Officers are keeping an open mind as to how or why the devices came to be there, police said. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.  

One nearby resident, Suwan lekha, told the Evening Standard: ‘I was in the house and a policewoman rang the bell and asked me not to go outside and to keep away because they had found a suspicious package that needed to be investigated. 

‘I felt safe because there were lots of police officers on the road and I’m away from it, the police do good work.’ 

Chief Superintendent Simon Rose, North West Command Unit said: ‘I’d like to thank local residents in the area for their patience and understanding whilst we dealt with this incident today. 

‘The public’s safety is our top priority, and I would like to pay tribute to the specialist officers who attended and were able to safely recover the devices.

‘I also want to reassure the local community that we have carried out precautionary searches in the surrounding area to make sure there was nothing else of a similar nature nearby, which I’m pleased to confirm is the case.

‘The next stage is to investigate how and why the two devices came to be in this flat and detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command will be leading this. 

‘I would ask anyone who might have information that could assist us to get in touch, either by calling 0800 789 321 or by calling Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous.’ 

The scene at a property in Harlesden, north London after police were called to reports of two suspicious devices found in an unoccupied flat which was in the process of being refurbished

The scene at a property in Harlesden, north London after police were called to reports of two suspicious devices found in an unoccupied flat which was in the process of being refurbished

Police outside the flat where suspicious devices were found in Craven Park, Harlesden this morning. They are believed to be improvised explosive devices

Police outside the flat where suspicious devices were found in Craven Park, Harlesden this morning. They are believed to be improvised explosive devices

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