Dissident republicans have issued a ‘non-specific’ bomb threat for central London, Scotland Yard confirmed today, a day before Queen Elizabeth makes a historic visit to Ireland.
Security was heightened today after the threat was issued to authorities last night.
Amid increased police activity across London, areas around the Mall, the central avenue leading to Buckingham Palace, were cordoned off for several hours today.
The threat came from the Republic and included a recognised code word.
"A bomb threat warning has been received relating to central London today. The threat is not specific in relation to location or time," London police said in a statement. "The threat level from Irish-related terrorism has not increased and remains at substantial."
In a separate incident, police carried out a controlled explosion to destroy a suspicious bag in a central London street, although it turned out to be harmless, a police spokesman said.
The Queen will arrive in Dublin tomorrow for the first visit by a British monarch since King George V in 1911. The largest security operation in the history of the Republic of Ireland is in place amid fears dissidents will try to disrupt the trip.
Fianna Fáil's justice spokesman Dara Calleary said the security threats in London "are the actions of misguided criminals who are ignorant of the true values of republicanism". He said the "foolish actions" of terrorists will not distract from what is an "extremely positive and historic event in our country's history".