Police today swooped on a London hospital and closed Westminster Bridge after an unarmed man ‘made threats’ inside the building.
Armed police rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital near Waterloo and blocked nearby roads in both directions on Tuesday in response to a ‘security alert’.
Witnesses claimed ‘all staff, wards and departments’ inside St Thomas’ were ‘locked down’ at the site, which is near the Palace of Westminster.
However, the Metropolitan Police has since confirmed the alert was ‘stood down’. Officers added the incident was ‘not treated as terrorism.’
Scotland Yard spoke to a man inside the hospital but no arrests were made.
Police today swooped on St Thomas’ Hospital in London and shut Westminster Bridge after an unarmed man ‘made threats’ inside the building. Pictured: The scene today
Armed police rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital near Waterloo and blocked the busy road in both directions in response to a ‘security alert’. Pictured: Armed police outside St Thomas’
An internal hospital memo seen by MailOnline confirmed the main entrance and Lambeth Wing entrance were closed amid the ‘security incident’ at St Thomas’.
The note said: ‘There is an ongoing security incident at St Thomas’ Hospital, as you may already be aware.
‘At this time the main entrance and Lambeth Wing entrance have been closed.’
Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Palace Road were closed in both directions as police responded to the ‘security alert’, but the cordon has since been lifted.
Witnesses claimed they were blocked from accessing the busy hospital, which is next to Westminster Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames.
Joe Sheffer said: ‘Incident at St Thomas’ hospital appears to be in south wing according to staff inside hospital.’
He added: ‘Nobody seems clear what is going on.’
Witnesses claimed ‘all staff, wards and departments’ inside St Thomas’ were ‘locked down’ at the site, which is near the Palace of Westminster
Armed police rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital near Waterloo today and have blocked the River Thames crossing in both directions
An internal hospital memo seen by MailOnline confirmed the main entrance and Lambeth Wing entrance were closed amid the ‘security incident’ at St Thomas’. Pictured: The police cordon
The alert was a false alarm, the Metropolitan Police has since confirmed. Pictured: Police at the scene
James Miller, 32, from London, told MailOnline he was asked to wait on the street when he tried to enter St Thomas’ as police responded to the ‘security alert.’
‘I went out for a smoke and when I was trying to go back in I was blocked by security who said there was an incident going on,’ he said.
‘I spoke to a guy who had just come out and he said there was a row between two men inside and one man had threatened to blow up the hospital.
‘It sounded crazy to me but in a matter of minutes there was so many emergency service vehicles here so they must have taken it seriously. I was getting worried.’
Mr Miller said he saw around 30 armed police officers rush to the scene, alongside a bomb disposal team and fire engines.
He added: ‘It was scary to see all that happening, especially because we were then told to move to the end of the street and they put cordons up.
‘I was there visiting a friend so I was worried about the stress it could have been causing him. I have no idea what they were told inside.’
Scotland Yard spoke to a man inside the hospital but no arrests were made. Pictured: The scene today
The London Ambulance Service was in attendance but confirmed paramedics ‘did not treat any patients’
Others reported seeing ‘ten armed police’ officers rushing inside.
‘My girlfriend just came out of an appointment there and said she saw ten armed police rushing into it as she was leaving,’ a man said.
There were suggestions the ‘security alert’ may have been a bomb threat, with one witness telling the Sun: ‘I heard it was a bomb threat and the hospital went into lockdown.
‘It seemed to be over with very quickly, but for a while it seemed like a life or death situation.’
Those at the scene added a bomb disposal team was in attendance, but the Metropolitan Police declined to confirm whether this was the case.
In a statement, Lambeth Police said: ‘Police were called at 9.18am to St Thomas’ Hospital following a report of threats made by a male. No weapons were seen.
‘Officers subsequently located and spoke to a male inside the hospital. The incident was stood down at approximately 10:30am.
‘There have been no arrests. This was not treated as a terrorism incident.’
At 10.07am, the Met tweeted: ‘Police are dealing with a security alert at St Thomas’ Hospital, SE1. We will provide further info when known.’
Around 30 minutes later the force added: ‘The security alert at St Thomas’ Hospital is being stood down. We are in the process of removing cordons.’
The London Ambulance Service was in attendance but confirmed paramedics ‘did not treat any patients.’