Oxford Circus: Terror alert on London's busiest shopping street declared false alarm

Tens of thousands of people were caught up in a major terror scare on London's busiest shopping street that turned out to be a false alarm.

Oxford Circus Tube station was evacuated and shoppers were told to stay indoors after police received reports of gunfire on Friday afternoon.

The central London area was packed with tourists looking for Black Friday deals on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Scotland Yard said police received reports of shots fired on Oxford Street and at the Tube station shortly after 4.30pm.

Oxford Street false terror alert

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A spokesman for the force said officers responded to the incident as if it was terror-related but no casualties, suspects or evidence of gunfire was found.

Shoppers and tourists were warned to go into a building and stay inside while police investigated.

Shortly after 6pm, Scotland Yard said the incident had been stood down and that members of the public could leave buildings. The Tube station was also reopened.

It is not clear what sparked the panic or 999 calls to the police reporting gunshots.

Witnesses reported being locked inside shops including Zara and Urban Outfitters.

Other panicked shoppers began screaming and running in a stampede amid the large police presence in the area.

Witness Lilly Steger told the Standard: "There were screams and then everybody started running. I thought originally it was a car driving into traffic. Everybody ran into stores or hotels.

Armed police officers direct shoppers in an Oxford Street
REUTERS

"A window shattered in front of us at Debenhams. We ran in a hotel."

American Laila Harilela told CNN: “I was on the corner of Oxford and Poland when there was a big scream from a stampede of people rushing towards myself and maybe four or five other people.

“None of us knew what to do so we ran with the stampede and tried to get into any shops and EE was very kind enough to allow ten of us in.

“It was a whole stampede that pushed us through on Oxford Street and as we were on the ground floor of EE we heard little pops."

The scene in Oxford Street in London after police responded to a number of reports of shots being fired
PA

Special effects worker Ellis Parry was near the scene.

He said: ‘I was with colleagues and we were walking back to the office at the time and we heard sirens going. We were told by work to get back to the office.

"People were running everywhere. Police told us to go inside."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Met response on Oxford Street has now been stood down. If you sought shelter in a building please now leave and follow the direction of police officers on the ground if you need assistance.

"At 4.38pm 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.

"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."

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