From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 17, 2026
London’s police search park near Israeli embassy, which was not attacked, after video threat to target it with ‘drones carrying dangerous substances’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
As London’s Metropolitan Police officers, wearing protective clothing, search a park near Israel’s Embassy for suspicious objects, the Foreign Ministry stresses that all embassy workers are safe and that “the embassy was not attacked.”
“There is an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens and officers are assessing a number of discarded items,” says Scotland Yard, calling the protective suits a “precaution.”
“We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage,” the Metropolitan Police adds.
The police add that their counterterrorism force is “aware” of a video posted last night, in which a group claims to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.”
Scotland Yard confirms that Israel’s embassy was not attacked, but it is “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.”
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. pic.twitter.com/ctfAiQpBED
— The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) April 17, 2026
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