Play was suspended at a County Championship cricket match at The Oval after a metal arrow was fired onto the pitch.
Surrey and Middlesex were playing to a draw but the match was brought to a halt at 4.25 pm on Thursday as a “projectile” landed close to where players were positioned.
The arrow, which The Guardian reports had “a metal tip,” was brought to the attention of umpires who informed players to leave the field.
Surrey cricketer Stuart Meaker said: “We have just officially gone off the field because a metal-tipped arrow just landed on the pitch!”
Well...we have just officially gone off the field because a metal tipped arrow just landed on the pitch!! 👀
— Stuart Meaker (@SMeaker18) August 31, 2017
A BBC social media account called the projectile a "crossbow bolt." Here is what it looks like.
Continuing coverage on 5 Live Sports Extra from the Oval on the major security alert after crossbow bolt is fired onto the field pic.twitter.com/KvQFrx459R
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 31, 2017
Metropolitan police said in a statement: "Officers are on scene. The ground is in the process of a controlled evacuation.
"There are no reported injuries. At this early stage it is believed that the object came from outside of the ground. There have been no arrests. We retain an open mind as to motive. Enquiries continue."