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A family whose motor home sparked a security alert when they parked it outside the Science Museum today told of their shock at being labelled “terrorists”.

Police ordered the area to be evacuated after the van, adorned with the statement “Iran is great” to promote peace and better relations with the Middle East, was left on Exhibition Road yesterday.

It had been driven across Europe by the Ivan family, Germans who hope to “demystify” Iranian culture and society after falling in love with the country in 2013.

They tweeted afterwards: “We are the so-called ‘terrorists’, a family visiting a museum with the kids.

“We have a message of peace and we are not looking for violence.”

Cristian Ivan, 41, and his wife, Audrey, 33, rented out their home in Germany, kitted out the camper with bunkbeds and are travelling with their two children and two rabbits.

School classes are taught in the van to fit around rallies and talks.

The family returned to the vehicle yesterday to find a window smashed, broken glass on the floor and the doors unlocked.

Mr Ivan said: “The street had been blocked at both ends by police.

“Nothing was missing, but there was no note left.”

The family’s travel can be tracked on their website, iranisgreat.com, featuring the slogan: “Get to know the real Iran!”.

They are due to return home on Thursday.

Police said a “suspicious vehicle” caused “a security alert in Kensington”, but officers “stood down as it was deemed non-suspicious”.