Jewish Museum in London evacuated after hoax bomb threat

The Jewish Museum in Camden was evacuated on Monday after a hoax bomb threat was made around lunchtime.

Around 100 people, including visiting schoolchildren and staff, were asked to leave “as a precaution,” as police closed off roads and searched the building. Nothing was found.

In a statement, the Museum said there were two groups of schoolchildren in at the time, adding: “We were able to evacuate the building quickly and safely. We would like to thank our staff and visitors for their patience and cooperation.”

Last month, the Museum’s chief executive Abigail Morris said the institution had increased the number of security guards it employs following the terrorist attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels in 2014.

The Monday threat echoes those made against Jewish community centres across the United States, as well as against the Sydney Jewish Museum in Australia, which was also forced to close while police checks were carried out.