‘Targeted’ bomb threat is made against Heaven nightclub as drag acts rehearse there for West End show forcing part of central London including Charing Cross station to be evacuated
- Met Police said they were alerted to a ‘suspicious package’ next to Charing Cross
- The train station and other buildings had to be evacuated as a ‘precaution’
- It has since emerged the threat was a ‘targeted hoax’ against Heaven nightclub
- Drag Race stars The Vivienne and Tia Kofi were among those forced out onto the street as bomb squad checked the building
- Source told MailOnline the drag queens were left ‘shaken’ by the incident
A bomb threat that forced the evacuation of Charing Cross train station today was a ‘targeted hoax’ aimed at drag queens rehearsing next door, it has emerged.
Met Police officers received reports of a suspicious package at Heaven nightclub at around 4pm with sniffer dog units and bomb disposal teams rushing to the scene.
Drag queens The Vivienne, Tia Kofi and Veronica Green – who were practising for a West End show at the venue – were forced to run out into the street while the building was swept for bombs.
Up above dozens of trains were cancelled while surrounding buildings were also evacuated.
Charing Cross train station and underground have both been evacuated due to an ‘incident’
Met Police said: ‘Officers are responding to reports of a suspicious package at a commercial property in Villiers Street, WC2.
‘A number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution and roads in the area are closed.’
An hour later specialist officers said they had found an item at the scene but confirmed it was not suspicious.
However MailOnline has since learned that the bomb threat was in fact a ‘targeted hoax’ believed to have been aimed at the queens who had posted about their rehearsals earlier in the day.
Drag queens The Vivienne (left), Tia Kofi and Veronica Green (right) – who were practising for a West End show at the venue – were forced to run out into the street while the building was swept for bombs
A source said: ‘Police received a call saying someone had planted a bomb at Heaven today during rehearsals.
‘They rushed to the venue and found the front door open and immediately evacuated Vivienne, Tia and Veronica.’
They added the club’s owner Jeremy Joseph as well as drag star Shania Pain and their manger were also moved out onto the street.
They added: ‘The three Drag Race stars were shaken by the incident and headed home as obviously rehearsals could not continue.’
MailOnline understands that the bomb threat at Heaven nightclub was in fact a ‘targeted hoax’ believed to have been aimed at the queens who had posted about their rehearsals earlier in the day
The Vivienne, who won the first series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, has since taken to social media to update fans on the ‘very scary’ incident.
‘Hi everyone, just to let you all know that we are safe after today,’ she said.
‘Basically we were having a rehearsal for our show Drag Queens of Pop and police stormed in an told us that we had to evacuate the venue because there had been a bomb scare.
‘Somebody had phoned the police, possibly after seeing our instagram knowing that we were at the venue.
‘But the police were absolutely amazing they made us feel so safe… they had to close the tube and bring in dogs… it was very scary but they made us feel so safe.’
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.
Southeastern trains had warned passengers to seek alternative routes but have said services are now returning to normal.