A man has been arrested after creating a disturbance inside a mosque in Stevenage this afternoon.
Police were called just before 3pm following reports that an unknown male was trying to damage the building.
The mosque on Vardon Road has been evacuated as a suspect package was detected.
At this stage the incident is thought to be linked to mental health issues, but as a precaution experts are attending the scene to assess the origins of the package that has been left inside the building.
As part of this response a cordon has been put in place, which has caused disruption to traffic.
A statement from Herts police said: "Our priority is to keep everyone safe until a thorough assessment can be made and the origins of the package clarified."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here