Witnesses reported at least three controlled explosions outside the BBC headquarters in London on Monday as police investigated what they said was a suspicious vehicle.
Staff at the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Central London and surrounding buildings were told to stay away from windows, while roads were closed around the area.
The BBC reported that police were investigating an orange van parked nearby. They deployed a bomb disposal robot, with witnesses saying at least three controlled explosions took place.
The BBC reported that the doors of the van were cut open, and police removed cardboard boxes and a motor bike.
Police tweeted that the area was being reopened around 6:30 p.m. local time.
It’s not the first such controlled explosion in the area. Earlier this summer, another suspicious vehicle was detonated by police near the BBC headquarters. In December 2015, offices were evacuated in the area due to a similar bomb scare involving a suspicious vehicle.
#Westminster #Marylebone #W1
The Met Police’s Bomb Disposal Robot has just carried out a controlled explosion on the suspicious orange van.#BBC journalists are currently holed up in their Newsroom.Video: @T_Mackintosh pic.twitter.com/h6OkhYawBe
— London 999 Feed (@999London) September 3, 2018
Just another day at work as the police carry out a controlled explosion on a suspect car outside the BBC Broadcasting House #BBC #London pic.twitter.com/0IIDJtFqj5
— Owen Clegg BBC (@ojclegg) September 3, 2018
Second controlled explosion carried out by robot on suspicious vehicle outside BBC pic.twitter.com/1cO0yUUwqU
— Thomas Mackintosh (@T_Mackintosh) September 3, 2018
Portland Place sealed off outside BBC office as police carry out second controlled explosion nearby pic.twitter.com/bNqMFVdeAR
— Stewart Maclean (@stewartmaclean) September 3, 2018
#W1 incident stood down and all roads to re-open… (We were called at 3.15pm to a report of a suspect vehicle on Portland Place #Westminster. The incident has now been stood down and police cordons are being removed. Thanks for your patience as officers worked at the location)
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 3, 2018
This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.