The US embassy in London is back in business after local authorities investigated and neutralized a suspicious package outside the building in the Nine Elms area earlier this morning.

According to a post by the embassy in X, the embassy’s services have been restored, “except for appointments with the public… (which) for November 22 have been cancelled.”

In the same announcement, it is stated that local authorities investigated and removed a suspicious package outside the embassy.

Earlier, the police announced that they proceeded to a controlled explosion of the suspicious object and cordoned off the surrounding area, without giving further information.

At the same time, a large section of the south terminal of Gatwick Airport, outside London, remains blocked until now after the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in a piece of luggage.

“Initial indications are that the object was a hoax deviceLondon’s Metropolitan Police said. “An investigation will follow».

“Some area closures will remain in place for the time being, but the majority of the police presence will now cease».

“Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the embassy“, added to her announcement.

The United States moved its embassy from Mayfair, central London, to Nine Elms in 2018, partly for security reasons.

This former industrial area is now home to dozens of luxury apartment buildings along with Battersea Power Station, a striking 1930s building with red brick and white chimneys that has been converted into a shopping and tourist hub.