Paris train station evacuated after bomb scare

A busy Paris train station was evacuated Friday afternoon after a potentially explosive device was discovered in a passenger’s bag.

Authorities later determined the item to be an inactive mortar round and resumed service at Gare du Nord station in northern Paris. Gare du Nord is one of the busiest railway stations in Europe with more than 214 million average travelers per year. It provides train transportation to many European nations, including the United Kingdom via the Eurostar. Gare du Nord specifically bans inactive weapons, which people often purchase as souvenirs.

The incident in Paris happened just hours after a suspected terrorist attacked several pedestrians on the popular London Bridge in the U.K. The attacker was subdued and disarmed by several bystanders before being shot and killed by London police. Another knife attack in The Hague, Netherlands occurred a short time later in which several people were wounded on a popular shopping street. Police investigating both stabbings are seeking more information about possible motivations.

The attack in London left two people dead as well as the attacker. Authorities also say the attacker wore a hoax suicide vest.