LONDON (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in London returned to normal operations Friday afternoon after police carried out the controlled explosion of a suspicious package that was found in the area earlier in the day.
London Metropolitan police later said it was a "hoax device.''
“An investigation will now follow,'' police said in a statement. ”Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.”
The embassy said it had returned to normal business operations, although all public appointments were canceled for the day.
“Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the Embassy,'' the embassy said. ”Thanks to @metpoliceuk for your swift action, and thanks to all visitors for your cooperation and patience at this time.''
Also Friday, authorities evacuated the south terminal of London's Gatwick Airport while they investigated a suspicious item found in luggage. Sussex Police said they had sent an ordnance disposal team to the airport as a precaution.
The U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms, London, where Metropolitan Police officers have carried out a "controlled explosion" outside after reports of a suspicious package, on Friday Nov. 22, 2024. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
A police cordon near the U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms, London, where Metropolitan Police officers have carried out a "controlled explosion" outside after reports of a suspicious package, on Friday Nov. 22, 2024. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
ROME (AP) — Forget about the Tinkerman. Claudio Ranieri is the Derbyman now.
Ranieri extended his perfect record in the capital derby as Roma beat Lazio 2-0 in Serie A on Sunday to give the Giallorossi a much-needed boost in what has been a difficult season.
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the opener with a curling shot from the edge of the area and Alexis Saelemaekers finished off a counterattack to give Roma a two-goal advantage after 18 minutes.
Ranieri improved his record to five wins in five derbies as Roma’s coach. He’s the team’s third manager this season after Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric were both fired. His other derby wins came during his first stint as Roma’s coach from 2009-11. He also coached his hometown club briefly in 2019.
Ranieri has also won the three other big derbies in Italy in Milan, Turin and Genoa as coach of Inter Milan, Juventus and Sampdoria, respectively.
Ranieri is best known for shocking the soccer world by leading Leicester to a Premier League title in 2016 but he was also ridiculed at times in England for his tendency to rotate his players regularly, hence the Tinkerman moniker.
Ranieri helped Cagliari avoid relegation last season and had said that would be his final club job but he couldn’t turn down Roma when he was called in to restore order in November. Ranieri's contract calls for him to step up into an executive role after this season, from which he'll have a say who will be the teams' next coach.
Roma, which has won three of its last five in Serie A, moved up to 10th place. Lazio remained fourth.
Pellegrini has been subjected to severe criticism by Roma’s fans this season, and his goal lifted the pressure off of Roma.
A car went up in flames outside the Stadio Olimpico about an hour before kickoff after being struck by fireworks as rival fans attempted to approach each other.
Also Sunday, Cagliari came back from a goal down to win 2-1 at last-place Monza with scores from Nadir Zortea and Roberto Piccoli.
Torino-Parma and Lecce-Genoa each finished 0-0.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Roma's Alexis Saelemaekers, right, shakes hands with Roma's head coach Claudio Ranieri, left, and leaves the pitch after being substituted during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's Evan Ndicka, right, duels for the ball with Lazio's Gustav Isaksen during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini, left, kicks the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Lazio's Alessio Romagnoli reacts during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's Alexis Saelemaekers, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini, center, scores his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Roma's head coach Claudio Ranieri looks on during warm up before a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Lazio, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
