An alert at Downing Street this morning has been declared a false alarm by Scotland Yard.
Downing Street was evacuated by police earlier as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and senior ministers held a security summit at number 10 in the wake of the US terror strikes.
About 50 journalists were ordered to leave their positions on the pavements opposite number 10 by police, with no explanation given.
They were told simply "for your own safety," to move from Downing Street across Whitehall to stand outside the Ministry of Defence.
The alert happened at 8.34 a.m., just over half an hour after a meeting of the Cabinet's Civil Contingencies Committee had begun.
Meanwhile, German police have reported that Frankfurt Messeturm tower has been evacuated after a bomb threat this morning.
PA