Angel Tube station evacuated as police carry out controlled explosion on suspect package

Angel Tube station was placed on lockdown as police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package.

Emergency services descended on the north London station at about 6.30pm on Wednesday to investigate the security alert.

Witnesses described seeing "police everywhere" as the station and surrounding area were quickly evacuated.

Trains were stopped from passing through the station after the package was found outside on Upper Street while people were told to stay away.

A large police cordon was put in place and a number of bus routes placed on diversion.

One person wrote on Twitter: "Avoid Angel station! So many police everywhere. Apparently suspicious package."

Another said: "Suspicious package found at Angel Tube station. Upper Street is closed."

Another added: "Trapped at Angel station. Don't know what's happening.

"Trains not stopping. There's an incident outside."

Shortly before 7pm, the Northern Line Twitter account tweeted: "Angel station is closed while we respond to a security alert outside the station."

A controlled explosion was carried out and the incident was stood down at 7.30pm, police said.

The Met Police tweeted: "We were dealing with a suspect package in Islington.

"A controlled explosion was carried out, and the incident was stood down at 19.34hrs."