Shops and restaurants evacuated over suspicious package found in east London
POLICE have evacuated restaurants, shops and offices after a bomb scare in east London.
Police have evacuated shops, restaurants and offices
Police have sealed off buildings around Commercial Street, in Spitalfields, after a suspect package was discovered.
Officers, who were called just after 5pm, asked shoppers and city workers to evacuate officers and shops, including a Nandos restaurant.
Specialist officers were deployed to the scene to identify the package.
WItnesses suggested police discovered an unexploded bomb from the Second World War - however the Metropolitan police have confirmed this was not the case.
Police cordoned off the scene just before 6pm this evening
A spokesman added: "We were called at 5.04pm today to reports of a suspicious package at Corbet Place, E1.
"Specialist officers attended and the item was found to be non-suspicious.
Witnesses have taken to social media after being evacuated form their offices or nearby shops.
The area has now been reopened
Twitter user Abi Huxtable said: "Evacuated from the studio after WWII unexploded bomb was discovered near Spitalfields."
Marketing worker Hannah Parvaz tweeted: "Everything in the area has been evacuated, including a local Nando's."
She added: "Everything in the area has been evacuated, including a local nandos, where people are waiting longingly for their chicken."
Bomb scare outside my office in #spitalfields. Had to evacuate at 5.55 on a Friday night. What is with this week?! pic.twitter.com/8yqYDuED6L
— Jessica Ferrow (@jessmarygreen) June 17, 2016
Kevin Mar said: "Just casually strolled through an area as it was being shutdown due to a bomb threat #spitalfields.
"Can only assume by the crowds and lack of concern by the police the threat wasn't particularly high."
Police were stood down at about 6.30pm and the cordons were lifted.