Angel station evacuated after suspect package found at North London Tube stop

Police confirm controlled explosion carried out

A police cordon in place around Angel tube station, north London (Jonathan Cook )

A controlled explosion was carried out by police at a tube station in central London after a suspect package was discovered.

Officers evacuated and cordoned off Angel station, in Islington, North London, on Wednesday evening to investigate the object.

It is not known what caused the alarm to be raised.

Sales director Jonathan Cook, 45, was working through nearby when he heard a bang.

He told The Independent it was around the same volume as a shotgun.

"I was walking south towards Angel when I saw the police had cordoned it off," Mr Cook said.

"I tried to walk around it but it seemed like it formed about a half mile radius around the station.

"I saw eight to nine police cars and three, fire engines - the firefighters were in full kit.

"I heard a bang but I wouldn't say it was a big one."

A tweet sent by the Metropolitan Police said: "We were dealing with a suspect package in Islington.

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

It comes less than a month after 30 people were hurt in a bombing at Parsons Green tube station in west London.

Police said the device failed to detonate properly.