Imperial War Museum Evacuated Over Suspicious WWII Items
The Imperial War Museum was plunged into chaos yesterday afternoon after a man brought in suspicious World War Two military gear. Police rushed to the landmark on Lambeth Road, Kennington, at around 2.20pm following reports of “suspected ordnance” being brought inside.
Police Assess Mysterious Military Items
“Ordnance” is a broad term covering weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and related military equipment. The exact nature of the items this man carried remains unclear. Nevertheless, emergency services sprang into action, prompting a full evacuation of the museum while officers examined the objects.
“Police were called at about 2.20pm on Monday, March 10, following reports that a man had attended with a number of items of militaria, including suspected ordnance,” a Met Police spokesperson confirmed. “Emergency services attended and assessed the items. The incident has now been stood down.”
Museum Reopens After Brief Lockdown
The Imperial War Museum remained closed for a short period. An IWM spokesperson said: “At 2.45pm, IWM London was evacuated at the request of the Metropolitan Police after a member of the public brought a Second World War era object into the museum. The museum was temporarily closed while the police were on site but has now reopened to visitors.”
Despite the scare, the museum resumed normal hours, closing later at 6pm as usual.
