UK police carry out controlled explosion near new US embassy site

British police said on Wednesday they had carried out a controlled explosion near where the United States is building a new embassy in Wandsworth, south-west London, but the unattended vehicles that triggered the action turned out not to be suspicious.

Police said they were called out after a report of two unattended vehicles near the embassy site, and carried out a controlled explosion at around 4:37 PM GMT (9:37 PM PST).

According to The Guardian, "police used a bomb disposal robot for the controlled explosion of a red van parked next to the unopened building on Ponton Road".

Residents were asked to stay inside their homes, whereas the close-by Waitrose supermarket car park was shut down briefly. Security officials said London Ambulance service and fire brigade were in attendance as well, while the site was cordoned off.

Security authorities, almost 90 minutes later, declared the incident "was not terrorism related".

A US embassy spokeswoman said no US diplomats were present at the construction site.

Police at that time also noted that nearby roads will be reopening shortly.

"The first staff move into the [US] embassy early next month," The Guardian added.