Imperial War Museum evacuated after man walks in with Second World War military items

Visitors were evacuated from the Imperial War Museum yesterday afternoon after a visitor took military items from the Second World War into the building.

Police were called to the landmark in Kennington at around 2.20pm following reports that a man had attended the museum with “suspected ordnance”.

Ordnance refers to military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles and maintenance tools and equipment.

The Met ordered the building to be evacuated, with footage shared on X showing onlookers gathered outside the gates.

Police assessed the items, and the incident was “stood down”, a spokesman said.

The museum then reopened before closing as usual at 6pm.

Pictured top: The Imperial War Museum in Kennington (Picture: Adi Narayan/ Wikimedia Commons)