The Tate Modern was evacuated this afternoon following the discovery of a suspicious package, prompting a significant response from police, fire, and ambulance services.
Authorities cordoned off the museum and the adjacent Millennium Bridge as a precautionary measure. The Tate Modern later confirmed that a „temporary cordon“ had been established, although the gallery remained open to visitors.
Mark Adams, a 64-year-old visitor, was in the midst of exploring the new Tracey Emin exhibition when staff began to evacuate the premises. He recounted,
„It all kicked off with staff telling us we had to leave; there was no tannoy announcement. I expect they didn’t want to cause panic. They really didn’t know much. We were asking them why we had to go.“
Adams noted that security personnel prevented visitors from exiting through the Turbine Hall, directing them instead through the shop located beneath the new wing. He remarked on the professionalism of the staff, stating,
„Everyone was fine and very professional – the staff were clearly well drilled.“
Upon exiting, Adams observed a substantial police presence outside the museum. He described the scene, saying,
„When we got out, we saw everything. The Met’s elite Territorial Support Group, ambulance, and fire engines are descending from every direction. It was quite impressive how quickly it all happened. Suddenly, there were emergency services of every flavor. I walked to Waterloo, and there were still police arriving.“
After the evacuation, Adams spent the remainder of the afternoon at Tate Britain, where staff were unable to provide further information regarding the incident.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade confirmed their involvement, stating,
„Firefighters have been called to assist police at an incident on Bankside.“
The Brigade was alerted at 11:30 AM, with two fire engines dispatched from Dowgate and Soho fire stations to the scene.
For updates on this incident and other news from London, visit the dedicated news hub.
- Incident led to evacuation of Tate Modern and closure of Millennium Bridge.
- Emergency services responded quickly to the scene.
- Visitors reported a well-organized evacuation process.
- Fire Brigade confirmed their assistance to police at the incident site.
Bildquelle: Foto von Georg Eiermann auf Unsplash
