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Oxford Circus: armed London police respond to reports of gunfire Armed London police respond to incident in Oxford Street
(35 minutes later)
Police are responding to a number of reports of shots being fired on Oxford Street in central London and are treating it as if it is a terrorist incident. Police say they are responding to an ongoing incident following a number of reports of shots being fired on Oxford Street in central London.
The Metropolitan police said there were no reports of casualties and they had not located any suspects yet. The Met police said, however, they could find no evidence of shots being fired, there were no reports of serious casualties and they had not located any suspects. Oxford Circus and Bond Street Underground stations were closed but had since reopened.
“Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related,” Scotland Yard said. “Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from British Transport Police.” British Transport Police said on Twitter they had “one report of a woman sustaining a minor injury when leaving Oxford Circus station”.
Earlier, the BTP said: “Officers are responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus station. Officers are on scene, more information when we get it. Scotland Yard said: “Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from British Transport Police.”
“The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene.” Earlier, the BTP said they were called at 4.37pm on Friday and advised people to avoid the area around Oxford Circus station. The Metropolitan police Twitter account advised people on Oxford Street to go inside, and told people in shops to remain in place.
Bond Street tube station was also closed and the Metropolitan police Twitter account advised people on Oxford Street to go inside if possible. Transport for London said it was investigating a “customer incident” and that trains were not stopping at the stations during the closures.
Transport for London said it was investigating a “customer incident” and that trains were not stopping at the station. TThe London fire brigade said it had three engines and 15 firefighters at the scene.
The BTP said they were called at 4.37pm on Friday. A spokesperson added that they were responding in conjunction with officers from the Metropolitan police.
Multiple witnesses on social media reported seeing people running away from the station and described panic in the area.Multiple witnesses on social media reported seeing people running away from the station and described panic in the area.
An unusual hustle in Oxford Circus, people run out from a shop screaming, police arrived and closed the road pic.twitter.com/D9CPTAXu0EAn unusual hustle in Oxford Circus, people run out from a shop screaming, police arrived and closed the road pic.twitter.com/D9CPTAXu0E
More details soon … The incident happened on Black Friday, the annual pre-Christmas shopping day that draws more people than normal to high streets to buy heavily discounted bargains.