'Suspicious Car' Explodes Outside ITV Studios

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Bomb disposal officers carried out two controlled explosions outside ITV’s Southbank studios.

The ITV building was evacuated after police discovered a suspicious white car parked outside at 11.20am on Friday morning.

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The Daily Express reports:

The studios are where popular shows such as This Morning and Loose Women are filmed, and is a popular area for tourists.

Pictures from the scene show a bomb squad robot searching the boot of the vehicle.

Staff at ITV were told to move to one side of the building while the controlled explosions were carried out.

ITV’s Loose Women was interrupted mid-air with an announcement that a ‘controlled explosion’ was happening within the studios.

“Bomb disposed…break this tape and off to the pub” #southbank #ITV pic.twitter.com/FuFZC4tGTn

— Naman (@Nam4n) May 20, 2016

Presenters Andrea McLean, Sherrie Hewson, Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams all suddenly stopped speaking as the noise sounded.

Speaking later on the show, Andrea said: “There is nothing to worry about.

“We had a security lockdown earlier but that announcement was giving the okay.”

The studios are also close to the National Theatre, along with Kings College London, with the area next to the River Thames extremely popular with tourists.

Writing on Twitter, Edward Clear claimed that people at Kings College London were told to move away from windows facing the ITV studios.

Aftermath of controlled explosion this morning on the #SouthBank London. Near the theatre pic.twitter.com/KNLggdD6zC

— Elwyn Evans (@MysterEone) May 20, 2016

Eye witnesses took to social media in reaction to the cotrolled explosions this afternoon.

Twitter user Jack McClean said: “Bomb squad outside IBM Southbank just blew up a ‘suspicious’ car, the guy whose car it is is now outside and absolutely fuming hahaha #oops.”

Another user added: “when u park ur car at itv studios southbank to grab a tinnie from the cornershop n the bomb squad blows ur car up” (sic).

David Blackmore tweeted: “”Suspicious” vehicle outside ITV on the Southbank. All staff moved to the other side of building.”

Staff have since been allowed back inside after the area was deemed to be safe.

A Met Police spokesman confirmed officers had investigated the suspicious vehicle and the incident had been stood down.