The device was found near Soho’s Dean Street by construction workers and police were called at 1:42 p.m. local time on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Thousands of workers were told to leave their buildings and police expanded a cordon across a number of streets in the busy neighborhood. Dozens of police officers were limiting access to the area.
Umika Verma, a public relations officer, told CNN the incident occurred by the Soho Hotel, opposite her office. “Police said to our receptionist that everyone has to get out,” she said.
“We came out of the office and were told to move. No time limit at all was given — it was just ‘get out of the office’ immediately. Within five minutes we all had to go.”
Soho is a lively part of the British capital, housing a number of businesses, restaurants and bars.
Around two hours after the device was found, police were telling workers at several of the neighborhood’s shops and offices to leave work and move away from the area. They also blocked off a number of streets not initially included in the cordoned-off zone.
An employee at Hammer House, on Wardour Street, told CNN: “I saw the cordoned-off area with the police, so I ran back upstairs and said we need to leave.”
“We just ran out … at the beginning people were worried, but now we’re more settled.”
