Two men have died and six other people have been injured after part of a balcony collapsed in west London.
Railings on the balcony of a building at Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, collapsed at about 10:00 GMT, London Ambulance Service (LAS) said.
The men who died were believed to be workmen, according to Scotland Yard.
Eight people were treated for injuries with one man dying at the scene and another dying after being taken to hospital, LAS said.
Collapsed balcony
Scene of balcony collapse
Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands believes the deceased were removal men.
He tweeted: "Balcony collapse in Cadogan Sq. Just spoke with Cadogan Ests [Cadogan Estates, a property company], not their property, but believe balcony broke when the removal men were moving a sofa out and the combined weight might have broken it.
“Casualties were removal staff. My thoughts are with their families.”
A neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News: “They were trying to pull a couch up to the first floor apartment with ropes. Was apparently too heavy. The fence broke off and fell on the workmen below.”
Police tent
Mat police
Grey line
At the scene: BBC reporter Duncan Smith
"It has happened in a classic, red-brick square in an exclusive part of Knightsbridge.
"There is police tape in front of several houses with police officers inside the cordon.
"The balcony above a police tent is missing the decorative, wrought iron railings featured in the neighbouring properties.
“There are no emergency sirens here, just an eerie silence.”
Grey line
Cadogan Square is made up of residential properties, with many of the buildings divided into flats.
The first-floor balcony is believed to have been connected to property number 37, a five-storey terraced building.
The iron railing appears to have fallen about 10m (33ft) to the ground although the stone base of the balcony looks undamaged.
A number of long ropes are hanging from the balcony to the ground where plastic sheets are gathered.
A police tent has been erected on the pavement below and the street has been closed to the public.
Knightsbridge building
Balcony
A LAS spokesman said: "Sadly, a man died at the scene.
"We sent three ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, the hazardous response team and a London air ambulance.
"We treated eight people. Every effort was made to resuscitate a patient.
“Another man was taken to St Mary’s Hospital.”
Police are in the process of identifying the dead men’s next of kin while an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances.
The Health and Safety Executive and the local authority have been informed.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30148003
It appears they were removal men. Sad. RIP
