This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/nov/24/oxford-circus-police-london-tube-gunshots-live
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Oxford Circus: police stood down after incident in central London – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| This blog will be closing now. Here is a summary of tonight’s events: | |
| Police have stood down from Oxford Street after responding to a feared terrorist incident, which turned out to be a false alarm | |
| Armed police and officers from British Transport Police rushed to the scene shortly after 4.30pm, after numerous calls of shots fired on Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus tube station, responding, “as if the incident is terrorist related”. | |
| Panicked commuters and shoppers ran out of the tube station and took cover in shops, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year - Black Friday - as rumours circulated about what had occurred. People were advised to avoid the area or stay inside if already there. | |
| British Transport Police said one woman received a minor injury in the crush as she fled Oxford Circus tube station. | |
| Shortly after 6pm, the Met said its response had been stood down. In a statement, it said the first armed response vehicle was on the scene in less than one minute from receiving the first call. | |
| The singer and songwriter, Olly Murs, who has 7.8m Twitter followers, was among those who tweeted that there had been gunshots and is taking a lot of stick as a result. | |
| He was not the only one tweeting about gunshots by any stretch of the imagination and he clearly believed there had been shots fired - as did the numerous people who called the police - but it shows how quickly misinformation can spread, especially when someone has such a large social media following. | |
| Fuck everyone get out of @Selfridges now gun shots!! I’m inside | |
| Really not sure what’s happened! I’m in the back office... but people screaming and running towards exits! | |
| Evacuating store now!!! Fuck heart is pounding | |
| Being told no shots in Selfridges! Have no idea the whole store went crazy! | |
| Prince William and Kate Middleton’s arrival at the Royal Variety performance at the London Palladium, situated on Argyll Street, close to Oxford Street, will be delayed due to tonight’s incident, Kensington Palace has said. A spokesman said: | |
| The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will still attend this evening’s Royal Variety Performance. Their arrival will be delayed, but we hope they will be able to arrive in time for the start of the performance. | |
| Andrea Acedo, 21, was one of those waiting to be given the all-clear. She and her fellow students were held inside the nearby Westminster university for about half an hour before the incident was stood down. She said: | Andrea Acedo, 21, was one of those waiting to be given the all-clear. She and her fellow students were held inside the nearby Westminster university for about half an hour before the incident was stood down. She said: |
| I was in class and there was a helicopter, lots of ambulances and police cars. Then I heard that someone was shooting people but we didn’t know where, so they had to lock down the university so no one could come in. | I was in class and there was a helicopter, lots of ambulances and police cars. Then I heard that someone was shooting people but we didn’t know where, so they had to lock down the university so no one could come in. |
| Another colleague, Joanna Ruck, was near Oxford Circus when events unfolded and provides an insight into how the sense of panic spread. She said: | Another colleague, Joanna Ruck, was near Oxford Circus when events unfolded and provides an insight into how the sense of panic spread. She said: |
| I was just near Oxford Circus on the corner of Regent’s street on the way back to tube. I could see some police had just arrived but I thought maybe it was for traffic control because it was so busy. | I was just near Oxford Circus on the corner of Regent’s street on the way back to tube. I could see some police had just arrived but I thought maybe it was for traffic control because it was so busy. |
| Then suddenly people started screaming and running dropping their bags. I just started running too. There were hundreds and hundreds of people running away. Some said someone had been stabbed, others were saying shots fired, everyone was really scared. | Then suddenly people started screaming and running dropping their bags. I just started running too. There were hundreds and hundreds of people running away. Some said someone had been stabbed, others were saying shots fired, everyone was really scared. |
| People were really really panicked and shops were instantly locking their doors. I just kept going till I got to Regent’s Park. | People were really really panicked and shops were instantly locking their doors. I just kept going till I got to Regent’s Park. |
| Restaurants just metres from Oxford Circus underground are back in business. | Restaurants just metres from Oxford Circus underground are back in business. |
| Chefs in Ponti’s Italian Kitchen are putting pizza in the oven and waiters are serving drinks. | Chefs in Ponti’s Italian Kitchen are putting pizza in the oven and waiters are serving drinks. |
| Robert, the manager, said his staff at the Italian restaurant followed their security procedures and rushed customers into the basement, giving them water. | Robert, the manager, said his staff at the Italian restaurant followed their security procedures and rushed customers into the basement, giving them water. |
| When a waitress announced that no terror incident had taken place, the remaining customers erupted with applause. But missing out on Black Friday dinner sales was a concern, he said. | When a waitress announced that no terror incident had taken place, the remaining customers erupted with applause. But missing out on Black Friday dinner sales was a concern, he said. |
| It is an important day for us. We have been full since 8am. We depend on London city centre and the hustle and bustle it involves. But more importantly, the police responded in way they do always do. Brilliant. | It is an important day for us. We have been full since 8am. We depend on London city centre and the hustle and bustle it involves. But more importantly, the police responded in way they do always do. Brilliant. |
| And... we are back to normal in Oxford Circus. pic.twitter.com/MzwbcYTykh | And... we are back to normal in Oxford Circus. pic.twitter.com/MzwbcYTykh |
| Mail Online speculated that the incident at Oxford Circus in London involved a lorry crashing into pedestrians based on a social media post that was ten days old. | Mail Online speculated that the incident at Oxford Circus in London involved a lorry crashing into pedestrians based on a social media post that was ten days old. |
| The website’s article on the incident included a headline referring to a lorry and quoted a Twitter post that was from 14 November. The Daily Mail UK Twitter account also posted | The website’s article on the incident included a headline referring to a lorry and quoted a Twitter post that was from 14 November. The Daily Mail UK Twitter account also posted |
| Witnesses describe seeing a lorry surrounded by police on a pavement covered with blood. | Witnesses describe seeing a lorry surrounded by police on a pavement covered with blood. |
| Mail Online quickly deleted references to the lorry from the article and the social media post. However, it was heavily criticised on social media for speculating about the incident. | Mail Online quickly deleted references to the lorry from the article and the social media post. However, it was heavily criticised on social media for speculating about the incident. |
| The cordon to the north, on Regent Street, was about 100 yards away from the entrance to the tube station. People inside it were being escorted out by an armed officer at about 6pm but, within minutes, it was taken down and the small crowd that had gathered headed for the entrance of the tube. | The cordon to the north, on Regent Street, was about 100 yards away from the entrance to the tube station. People inside it were being escorted out by an armed officer at about 6pm but, within minutes, it was taken down and the small crowd that had gathered headed for the entrance of the tube. |
| People are going back onto the streets after the Met and BTP confirmed that no evidence has been found of gunfire. | People are going back onto the streets after the Met and BTP confirmed that no evidence has been found of gunfire. |
| Area around Oxford Circus tube has been reopened. Normality appears to have been resumed pic.twitter.com/R8tats7HnC | Area around Oxford Circus tube has been reopened. Normality appears to have been resumed pic.twitter.com/R8tats7HnC |
| This video shows the extent of - understandable - panic among shoppers caught up in the incident, which thankfully was not what people dreaded. | This video shows the extent of - understandable - panic among shoppers caught up in the incident, which thankfully was not what people dreaded. |
| The incident is officially over, say the Met. In a statement, the force says: | The incident is officially over, say the Met. In a statement, the force says: |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 casualties, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police. | Officers working with colleagues from British Transport Police carried out an urgent search of the area. No casualties, 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. | 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. |
| One of my colleagues, Caroline Bannock, has emailed in to say a couple of tube drivers suggested to passengers that the incident at Oxford Circus was related to a suspect package: | One of my colleagues, Caroline Bannock, has emailed in to say a couple of tube drivers suggested to passengers that the incident at Oxford Circus was related to a suspect package: |
| I was on a southbound Victoria line train at 5.20pm when the tube driver announced that there was an incident at Oxford Circus tube and no trains would be stopping there. The train proceeded through Oxford Circus. | I was on a southbound Victoria line train at 5.20pm when the tube driver announced that there was an incident at Oxford Circus tube and no trains would be stopping there. The train proceeded through Oxford Circus. |
| The driver updated five minutes later: to say that both Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations were closed. There was a suspect package found on train heading northbound, it had been identified and the train had been moved on. | The driver updated five minutes later: to say that both Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations were closed. There was a suspect package found on train heading northbound, it had been identified and the train had been moved on. |
| I changed trains at Green Park to get on the jubilee southbound - that train stopped at Westminster and the driver informed passengers that the package at Oxford Circus had been identified but there was also another faulty train and that was also causing delays as it was going slowly and needed to go into a siding. The tube straeted moving at about 1730. | I changed trains at Green Park to get on the jubilee southbound - that train stopped at Westminster and the driver informed passengers that the package at Oxford Circus had been identified but there was also another faulty train and that was also causing delays as it was going slowly and needed to go into a siding. The tube straeted moving at about 1730. |
| Everyone around me remained calm throughout. | Everyone around me remained calm throughout. |
| This map shows where the incident, whatever it was, took place: | This map shows where the incident, whatever it was, took place: |
| This, from a reporter on BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show, is amazing if true: | This, from a reporter on BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show, is amazing if true: |
| “Being told an electrical fault may have been mistaken for a gun shot” - just overheard on th security guard’s radio | “Being told an electrical fault may have been mistaken for a gun shot” - just overheard on th security guard’s radio |
| There is still a lot of confusion and rumours about what has happened on the ground. Oxford Circus station entrances are completely deserted apart from police and emergency vehicles. | There is still a lot of confusion and rumours about what has happened on the ground. Oxford Circus station entrances are completely deserted apart from police and emergency vehicles. |
| Piles of Evening Standard newspapers are still in place under the Christmas lights and there are still hundreds of people hiding in shops and bars near the underground station. Lines of red double decker buses are parked on curbs in the area. | Piles of Evening Standard newspapers are still in place under the Christmas lights and there are still hundreds of people hiding in shops and bars near the underground station. Lines of red double decker buses are parked on curbs in the area. |
| One the scene in oxford circus. Hundreds of shoppers hiding in hotels and businesses nearby. People are very jumpy. pic.twitter.com/tLuXVAgdTJ | One the scene in oxford circus. Hundreds of shoppers hiding in hotels and businesses nearby. People are very jumpy. pic.twitter.com/tLuXVAgdTJ |
| The Uk terrorism threat level is at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely, with large amounts of terrorist plotting feared by counter terrorism officials. | The Uk terrorism threat level is at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely, with large amounts of terrorist plotting feared by counter terrorism officials. |
| Reports to police, even if unverified, of gunshots fired would trigger a rapid and large response. The view would be it is better to respond in large numbers with extra armed officers rushed in, then scale back if nothing is found. | Reports to police, even if unverified, of gunshots fired would trigger a rapid and large response. The view would be it is better to respond in large numbers with extra armed officers rushed in, then scale back if nothing is found. |
| The Met would have issued a “Run, hide. tell” message if they believed it was a full blown marauding attack. This was not issued today at any point. | The Met would have issued a “Run, hide. tell” message if they believed it was a full blown marauding attack. This was not issued today at any point. |