Key Points
- Kensington Gardens in central London has been closed to the public while police assess a number of discarded items.
- Officers in protective clothing are on the scene as a precaution, but police say there is no current indication of an increased risk to public safety.
- Counter Terrorism Policing London is aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claimed to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances.
- The Metropolitan Police says the embassy has not been attacked and officers are carrying out urgent enquiries into the authenticity of the video and any possible link to the items found in the gardens.
- The public has been urged to avoid the area while investigations continue, with cordons in place around the gardens and surrounding area.
Kensington (Extra London News) April 17, 2026 – Police have shut Kensington Gardens in central London while officers assess a number of discarded items, after a video circulating online prompted urgent enquiries into whether there is any link to the scene near the Israeli Embassy.
What happened in Kensington Gardens?
As reported by the BBC, officers closed the royal park and set up cordons after being called to an ongoing incident involving several abandoned objects. The Metropolitan Police said some officers were wearing protective clothing as a precaution while they dealt with the scene. The force said it did not believe there was any increased public safety risk at this stage, but asked people to stay away until the work was complete.
Why did police respond?
Police action intensified after a video was shared online overnight in which a group claimed to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances. Counter Terrorism Policing London said it was aware of the footage and was checking both its authenticity and whether there was any connection between the claims in the video and the items discovered in Kensington Gardens. The Metropolitan Police also confirmed that the embassy itself had not been attacked.
What did police say?
The Metropolitan Police said officers were carrying out urgent enquiries and would issue further updates as more information became available. It said the cordons meant there was no public access to the gardens or the surrounding area while checks continued. The Independent reported that police stressed the current position was precautionary rather than evidence of a wider threat to the public.
What is the wider context?
The current incident comes during a period of heightened concern around security and hate-related offences in north-west London, according to The Independent. That report said police were already investigating three arson incidents over the past month, two of which they are treating as antisemitic hate crimes. Those cases include an arson attack on four ambulances in Golders Green, an attempted arson at a Finchley synagogue, and a fire at the offices of a Persian-language media outlet.
How have media outlets reported it?
The BBC reported that Kensington Gardens was shut as police “assess items”, while The Independent said officers in protective clothing were investigating an “ongoing incident”. ITV reported that police were examining whether the items found near the Israeli Embassy were linked to the online video. Across those reports, the central facts were consistent: the park was closed, the embassy had not been attacked, and police were treating the matter as an active investigation.
Background of the development
Kensington Gardens sits close to the Embassy of Israel in central London, which explains why any security-related incident in the area draws immediate attention. According to The Independent, Counter Terrorism Policing London had already been dealing with related concerns after the online video emerged. The police response reflects the cautious approach usually taken when officers cannot immediately rule out a security threat near a diplomatic site.
Prediction
For local residents, visitors, and people travelling through central London, the immediate effect is likely to be disruption around the gardens and nearby routes until police complete their enquiries. If the items are found to be harmless and unrelated to the video, the park may reopen once the scene is cleared and officers are satisfied there is no further risk. If investigators establish a link to the online claims, the case could lead to a wider security review around the area and possibly more visible policing near the embassy.
