Powder sent to British parliament found to be harmless

Armed police gather outside an entrance to the Houses of Parliament in London, Feb 13, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (REUTERS) - Counter-terrorism police were called to Britain's parliament on Tuesday (Feb 13) to investigate white power sent to an office in the building, but the powder was later found to be harmless, officials said.

One office remained closed as officers carried out investigations, but the rest of the building was open, police said. Parliament is currently in recess.

"Today, the Metropolitan Police investigated a small package containing white powder on the parliamentary estate. The powder was found to be non-harmful," the House of Commons, Britain's lower house of parliament, said in a statement.

Police increased security at the site after an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria-inspired attacker drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge a year ago, killing four of them, and then stabbed a police officer to death nearby.

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