A controlled explosion has been carried out on two cars near the building site of the new US Embassy in London.

Metropolitan Police said they were called to Nine Elms, Wandsworth at 4.38pm to reports of two unattended vehicles.

A cordon was set up around the cars and a nearby Waitrose was evacuated of shoppers by specialist officers.

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The two cars (both with their windows smashed) are seen parked outside the new US Embassy in London, which is due to open next month

One of the vehicles belonged to Taus Larsen, 40, who said he was 'surprised' when he returned to his Ford van to find the front passenger side window had been smashed and the back door was crow-barred.

He said: 'In hindsight maybe it wasn't ideal to have left it here for so long. But there wasn't any lines.

'I only live around the corner. I just came back to check up on it. I came here on my bike and thought someone had robbed it.

'I thought the commotions had been because there had been a break-in. It turned out the police had broken in or crow-barred the window, or tried to crowbar the back door open.'

Mr Larsen had parked the car on the street on Monday.

A cordon was set up (shown) around the cars and a nearby Waitrose was evacuated of shoppers by specialist officers

A controlled explosion has been carried out on two cars near the building site of the new US Embassy in London

A spokeswoman for the force told MailOnline: 'London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade are also in attendance.

'A controlled explosion was carried out at around 5.37pm. Enquiries continue.'

A statement added before the controlled explosion took place said: 'No one hurt, we're just being vigilant.

'Traffic still flowing, Pontin Road currently closed, as is the Waitrose store & car park.'

The capital's emergency services have been on high alert this week following Saturday night's terror attack in London Bridge and Borough Market.

Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba killed eight people and injured 48 after launching a stabbing rampage shortly after 10pm.