Bomb disposal robot destroys Labour MPs' Christmas cards near Parliament

A Metropolitan Police bomb disposal robot destroyed a box of Labour MPs' unsent Christmas cards found near Parliament, triggering road closures around Parliament Square at about 07:30 GMT Thursday. Police said the item was inspected and deemed non-suspicious, and the area was reopened roughly an hour later. The box had been left in Victoria Tower Gardens, a riverside area adjacent to the Parliament complex.

Remnants found at the site included parts of Christmas cards decorated with pictures drawn by children and intended for Labour MPs and constituency offices, some bearing MPs' addresses. Sky News reported some of the cards were in a box bearing the name of Housing Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh. Scraps seen by the BBC showed some cards were addressed to Housing Committee Chair Florence Eshalomi. Both MPs had been approached for comment. Police do not comment on packages that have been declared safe, and it is not unusual for unattended items to trigger closures around Parliament, a heavily congested and heavily policed part of London.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said he was not aware of the incident. Santa Claus has yet to comment. The incident comes as security around Parliament remains tight during the holidays and as the area around Parliament Square continues to operate under high policing levels.