LONDON — On Friday, British authorities launched an investigation into a security incident reported near the Israeli Embassy in London. This action followed claims made online by a group asserting they had deployed drones carrying “dangerous substances” targeting the embassy.
Matt Jukes, who leads counter-terrorism efforts in London, stated that there was no evidence of an actual attack on the embassy. However, officers donned protective gear to examine “discarded items” discovered in the vicinity of the building.
The embassy assured the public through a statement that all personnel were unharmed and safe.
Counter-Terrorism Police on High Alert
Jukes addressed the situation in a televised statement, saying, “Counter Terrorism Policing London is aware of a video circulating online where a group claims to have targeted the nearby Israeli embassy with drones carrying dangerous substances.”
He added, “While we can confirm that the embassy itself remains unharmed, we are conducting urgent investigations to verify the video’s authenticity and to explore any possible connections between the video and the items found in Kensington Gardens.”
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, had posted a video that included footage of drones along with two figures dressed in protective clothing and a message that the Israeli Embassy was being targeted.
The group has claimed responsibility for a spate of attacks across Europe on US, Israeli and Jewish targets, including an arson attack that destroyed several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in the Golders Green area of north London.
Jukes said the police presence had been stepped up and cordons had been put in place, meaning there was no public access to Kensington Gardens and the surrounding area.
“We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this time, and we would urge people, nonetheless, to avoid the area while officers carry out their work,” Jukes said.
The Israeli Embassy said in a statement that a suspected security incident was being investigated in an adjacent park.
“We wish to clarify that all embassy staff are safe and that the embassy was not attacked,” it said. “As always we remain in close and continuous contact with the local authorities.”
It was the latest in a number of incidents involving the embassy and Jewish sites in the British capital since the ambulances were torched last month.
Earlier this week, two suspects were arrested over an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in north London.
In March, two men were charged with being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy and other Jewish targets, while earlier this week, a man from Kuwait went on trial accused of planning a terrorist attack on the embassy.
