London police carry out controlled explosion

Police carried out a controlled explosion on a van in west London today amid heightened security concerns provoked by the US-…

Police carried out a controlled explosion on a van in west London today amid heightened security concerns provoked by the US-led war on terrorism.

It was a controlled explosion conducted as a precaution on an abandoned van in Fulham. Nothing suspicious was found, a Scotland Yard spokeswoman said.

Security in the capital has been stepped up since Britain joined the United States in airstrikes against the Taliban on Sunday in retaliation for last month's attacks on New York and Washington.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mr Andy Trotter said the Metropolitan police had no specific intelligence to suggest a threat to London and urged people to go about their business as normal.

"High-visibility policing will continue to provide both reassurance and a deterrent at all the vital sites across London. We have reaching almost 1,000 extra officers on duty per day", Mr Trotter said.

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