Explosion in Enfield as bomb squad called to suspect device - 2nd London alert in 24 hrs
SPECIALIST bomb squad officers have carried out a controlled explosion on a “suspicious item” just hours after a central London tube station was evacuated.
Enfield town centre
Police were called to Enfield, north London, at 8.30am this morning to reports of an abandoned “briefcase” outside a cafe in the town centre.
Officers sealed off the high street after the suspect package was found outside Cafe Nero in Church Street.
The Met confirmed a controlled explosion had taken place but officers were later “stood down” as it was found not to have been a bomb.
Judith and Brian Cornfoot, managers of the local market, said it was “very worrying".
The couple told the Enfield Independent: “It seems like you can’t go anywhere any more without something like this.
"People are very concerned, we have had quite a few elderly people come up to us and ask what is happening.”
Police cordon off the area
The security alert follows just 12 hours after Baker Street tube station was evacuated following reports a car was abandoned outside the station with a suspicious object inside.
Hundreds of commuters were spotted filing out of the station last night after the alarm was raised.
Police and intelligence services across Europe have been on high alert since last week’s Paris terror attacks.
Three London tube stations - Baker Street, Aldgate and Liverpool Street - have been evacuated in the last 48 hours due to security scares.
Baker Street tube station was evacuated following a bomb scare
The tube station was evacuated after a suspicious vehicle was left outside
Commuters were evacuated from the busy station