UK police reopen central London roads after security alert

FILE PHOTO: A newly painted bicycle sign is seen on the middle of the road at Westminster Bridge, as the new Highway Code rules start today together with giving pedestrians priority at junctions, in London, Britain, January 29, 2022. REUTERS/May James

LONDON (Reuters) - British police said an unattended item found in central London had been determined not to be suspicious and a number of roads which were closed as a precaution would now be reopened.

Police earlier closed bridges, covering a roughly one mile stretch of the River Thames while they assessed the item.

"The unattended item has been assessed and was found not to be suspicious. Road closures will be lifted imminently," police said on Twitter. Trains to several stations were temporarily disrupted while the security alert was dealt with.

Britain last week lowered its national terrorism threat level from severe to substantial, meaning an attack was considered likely rather than highly likely.

(Reporting by Kate Holton, writing by William James and Kylie MacLellan)