Suspect package blown up in London station

London's Paddington rail station was evacuated and shut down briefly today while police carried out a controlled explosion on…

London's Paddington rail station was evacuated and shut down briefly today while police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package.

A police spokesman said the package, a briefcase, was blown up by explosives officers after the west London station was cleared of people.

"The evacuation began at 8.20 a.m., explosives officers disrupted [blew up] the package and the station was reopened at 9.30 a.m.," the spokesman said.

Britain has been on a heightened state of alert since a series of co-ordinated terror attacks on Spanish trains killed 202 people others earlier this month.