Police, fire services deployed for 'suspicious package' near UK's defence ministry

British police said they were investigating a suspicious package near the defence ministry on Wednesday, and had closed roads while they dealt with the incident.

A Reuters photographer saw a bomb disposal robot at the scene after police said they were investigating the package at Embankment Gardens, near the Ministry of Defence, to the north of the Houses of Parliament.

"Police were called ... to reports of a suspicious package at Embankment Gardens," a police spokesman said in a statement, adding that the ambulance and fire services were also at the scene. "Cordons and road closures have been put in place."