The Metropolitan Police tweeted: “Police called at 16:38 to a number of reports of shots fired on #OxfordStreet & underground at Oxford Circus tube station. Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from @BTP.”
It added that police are at the scene to establish “exactly what happened.”
British Transport Police (BTP) added: “Please continue to avoid the Oxford Street and Regent Street area. If you are in the area, go into a building and stay inside until further notice.”
The force tweeted there has been a report of one injury. “At this stage, we have received one report of a woman sustaining a minor injury when leaving Oxford Circus station. There are no other reported casualties.”
The London Fire Brigade says three fire engines and 15 firefighters are on the scene.
Ryan Butcher, a reporter for the Independent who was inside the station at the time, said panic broke out after passengers were told to evacuate the station. A tannoy announcement said there had been a “reported emergency” and police arrived quickly, he said.
“Everyone started running ... I saw smoke … people started falling over in the streets.”
He is sheltering in a nearby restaurant, where he said other people were “shaking and crying,” adding: “Its just terrifying.”
More footage of people running from London's Oxford Circus as armed police respond to reports of gun shots. pic.twitter.com/g3NBzQiOLc
— HAYDN R. SNAPE (@HAYDNRSNAPE) November 24, 2017
Terrorists in Oxford circus this is crazy! #OxfordCircuspic.twitter.com/gkLayGJZlP
— #HIGHER (@NTPWR) November 24, 2017
Locked in @Topshop at Oxford Circus... what is happening? Twitter news says ‘incident’ pic.twitter.com/6f5TEyWR5a
— Jessica Bishopp (@jsbishopp) November 24, 2017
According to Twitter user Assed Baig, there is “Panic at Oxford Circus as people shout bomb!” while BBC journalist Kawoon Khamoosh said “too much police in Oxford Circus. People are screaming and running trying to escape the area. Everything was normal, changed in a min.”
Too much police in Oxford Circus Street. People are screaming and running trying to escape the area. Everything was normal, changed in a min
— Kawoon Khamoosh (@KawoonKhamoosh) November 24, 2017
Another Twitter user Chi Chi Izundu says she has been locked in clothing store Zara until “the situation is under control.” She added that people “panicked and ran for cover into the changing rooms.”
Officers are responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus station. Officers are on scene, more information when we get it. Follow @BTP for updates.
— BTP (@BTP) November 24, 2017
BTP did not immediately confirm the cause of the alert. It tweeted: “We continue to respond to an incident at Oxford Circus. The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene.”
Took a screenshot of an Oxford Circus camera. Completely empty now but for police cars. pic.twitter.com/kMLC23jHQn
— Ben Cartwright (@bajcartwright) November 24, 2017
Bond Street tube station has also been closed. BTP said its officers were called at 4.37pm local time on Friday. A spokesperson added they are responding in conjunction with officers from the Metropolitan Police.
Police called at 16:38 to a number of reports of shots fired on #OxfordStreet & underground at Oxford Circus tube station. Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from @BTP
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 24, 2017
The evacuation came as thousands of shoppers flocked to central London to shop the Black Friday sales.
A number of offices in the area are on lockdown.
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Two men aged 21 and 40 hand themselves in to police over platform fight that triggered mass panic in Oxford Street amid reports of 'gun shots'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5116549/Men-hand-police-Oxf...
So with all the CCTV on the London Underground and in Central London itself, they couldn't ascertain what had happened within a few minutes - doesn't that void the whole reason for all the cameras in the UK?
How did a punch up turn into 'shots fired'?
Of course, terror attacks are "part and parcel of living in a big city" according to Sadiq Kahn, Mayor of London.
Amazing that prior to 9/11, London seemed to do quite well in the face of terrorism when things were blowing up.
Why are the armed police in the photo above wearing balaclavas / ski masks?
It was not that cold and there was no flash / thermal risk.
Call me paranoid, but during a so-called 'terrorist threat' - surely the British public would expect to see the faces of armed police - especially since the controlled media has repeatedly told us through its entertainment output that only 'bad guys' wear those particular pieces of apparel.
Or is is being worn to intimidate the public?
There seemed to be a lot of intimidation going on in London on Friday night, police screaming at people, causing panic and forcing them into buildings near the danger area rather than calmly evacuating areas.
Is it just me, or is there something odd about this pic?
Check the phone cover, strategically placed to send the overused 'Keep Calm' message.
Or is it merely co-incidence?
The operation was stood down just after 6pm local time. “If you sought shelter in a building please now leave and follow the direction of police officers on the ground if you need assistance,” the Metropolitan Police said.
“At 16:38hrs on Friday, 24 November police started to receive numerous 999 calls within a short space of time reporting shots fired in a number of locations on Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus underground station. Given the nature of the information received, the Met responded in line with our existing operation as if the incident was terrorism, including the deployment of armed officers,” it said in a statement.
“Officers working with colleagues from British Transport Police carried out an urgent search of the area. No causalities, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police. Some cordons remain in place and additional officers remain on duty in the West End to reassure the public. We thank the public for their patience and assistance during our response,” it added.
British Transport Police (BTP) tweeted there has been a report of one injury. “At this stage, we have received one report of a woman sustaining a minor injury when leaving Oxford Circus station. There are no other reported casualties.”
Lee Mann, 27, was locked in a basement with around 30 people after shopkeepers rushed people into their stores. She told RT: “I was standing outside Liberty with my headphones in, hundreds of people started running towards me. We don’t know what is happening. We are locked in the basement so we haven’t heard anything at all.”
Ryan Butcher, a reporter for the Independent who was inside the station at the time, said panic broke out after passengers were told to evacuate the station. A tannoy announcement said there had been a “reported emergency” and police arrived quickly, he said.
“Everyone started running ... I saw smoke … people started falling over in the streets.”
He is sheltering in a nearby restaurant, where he said other people were “shaking and crying,” adding: “Its just terrifying.”
More footage of people running from London's Oxford Circus as armed police respond to reports of gun shots. pic.twitter.com/g3NBzQiOLc
— HAYDN R. SNAPE (@HAYDNRSNAPE) November 24, 2017
Terrorists in Oxford circus this is crazy! #OxfordCircuspic.twitter.com/gkLayGJZlP
— #HIGHER (@NTPWR) November 24, 2017
Locked in @Topshop at Oxford Circus... what is happening? Twitter news says ‘incident’ pic.twitter.com/6f5TEyWR5a
— Jessica Bishopp (@jsbishopp) November 24, 2017
According to Twitter user Assed Baig, there was “Panic at Oxford Circus as people shout bomb!” while BBC journalist Kawoon Khamoosh said “too much police in Oxford Circus. People are screaming and running trying to escape the area. Everything was normal, changed in a min.”
Too much police in Oxford Circus Street. People are screaming and running trying to escape the area. Everything was normal, changed in a min
— Kawoon Khamoosh (@KawoonKhamoosh) November 24, 2017
Another Twitter user Chi Chi Izundu said she was locked in clothing store Zara until “the situation is under control.” She added that people “panicked and ran for cover into the changing rooms.”
BTP did not immediately confirm the cause of the alert. It tweeted: “We continue to respond to an incident at Oxford Circus. The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene.”
Bond Street tube station was also closed. BTP said its officers were called at 4.37pm local time on Friday. A spokesperson added they were responding in conjunction with officers from the Metropolitan Police.
The evacuation came as thousands of shoppers flocked to central London to shop the Black Friday sales.
A number of offices in the area were put on lockdown.
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