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Police Say 'No Evidence' Of Shooting At Oxford Circus; Shoppers Sheltering In Place Can Leave

Update: After an investigation, metro police are saying the incident has been 'stood down', and that any shoppers still sheltering in place can leave...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While additional officers will remain on duty, it appears there's nothing to see here...

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Update: British Transport Police have corroborated the Metropolitan police's claim that no evidence of an attacker - or even a shooting - has been found...

 

Still, video shot by a Chinese tourist shows crowds of shoppers hiding in nearby buildings as police continue to investigate.

 

Given the spate of terror attacks in London and Manchester over the past 18 months, it probably wouldn't hurt to be absolutely certain there's no threat.

 

 

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Update: An aerial view of Oxford Circus showed it mostly abandoned as people continued to shelter in place. However, authorities have already opened the Bond St. and Oxford Circus stations, suggesting that investigators have reason to believe that there never was any "threat" in the first place.

 

 

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Update: In what many will surely regard as a confusing update given the many witness reports of what sounded like gunshots, Metropolitan Police said in their latest effort that they found 'no evidence' of shots fired. Thought they cautioned any shoppers in the area to continue sheltering in place.

 

 

 To date police have not located any trace of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or causalities. Officers continue to work with colleagues from British Transport Police in the area of Oxford Circus.

Updates will be provided as soon as we have them.

If you are in building stay in a building, if you are on the street in Oxford Street leave the area.

Officers are continuing to search the area.

In another confusing turn, police added that they've not located 'any traced of the subject

 

 

In other words..

Spaceballs - "We ain't found shit!"

 

Unless the incident was some kind of a hoax, the reports certainly don't jive with the numerous videos of shoppers fleeing the area that have emerged on social media...

 

 

One CNN reporter described being nearly trampled by the crowds. CNN's London office is nearby.

 

 

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Update: London Firefighters said in a tweet that they were called to an incident at 1643 Oxford Circus tube. Three fire engines reposnded to the incident.

 

Meanwhile, more witness reports are beginning to emerge: Laila Harilela was on Oxford Street when she heard screams and a stampede of people trying to get into shops. She says they heard "little pops".

 

Meanwhile, more videos taken by witnesses are emerging on social media...

 

 

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Update: Met Police say at this stage, no casualties have been located. Furthermore, RANSquawk is reporting that 'rumors' circulating online say the gunshots were related to a 'gang fight', though that hasn't been confirmed.

 

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As we detailed earlier, London police have cleared out the main local shopping streets Oxford Street and Bond Street, and evacuated the Oxford Circus subway station following reports of gunshots at one of London's largest department stores, Selfridges.

While there has been no official news yet, there have been twitter reports of gunshots at Selfridges.

According to the Daily Mail, hundreds have been evacuated from Oxford Circus tube station amid reports of gunshots. Armed police have arrived on scene after a gunman was reported to have fired shots. 

Witnesses at the scene described seeing a lorry on the pavement surrounded by police as if it had 'ploughed' into pedestrians. Next to the lorry, the pavement was said to be covered in blood.

Tweets show a heavy police presence in the vicinity of Oxford Circus:

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Source
London
Oxford
Europe
Metropolitan Police
British Transport Police