Police have found no evidence of shots having been fired, no suspects and no serious casualties after panic on Oxford Street late this afternoon.
People ran and screamed from Britain’s most famous shopping street on one of its busiest days of the year as teams of armed officers moved in to close down Oxford Circus tube station.
The panic was started after gunfire was reportedly heard in or around the Underground station around 5pm today – but police have yet to find any source of gunshots.
A large section of Oxford Street was locked down at the height of the scare, but much of the area has now been reopened.
MailOnline journalist Keiligh Baker, who was walking towards Carnaby Street from when the incident unfolded, said: ‘Lots of armed police arrived and stormed Oxford Street. They were shouting “move, move, move!”.
‘Then the uniformed officers started shouting “go, go, go”. People were sprinting and screaming.’
An armed police officer on scene at Oxford Street in central London where there are reports shots having been fired
An armed police officer was spotted patrolling a department store near to Oxford Street following reports gun shots had been heard at Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus is in lockdown after reports of gunshots being fired. Shoppers have been locked inside while armed police scour the area
Police formed a cordon in the street near to Oxford Circus following reports of gunshots. British Transport Police has said they were unable to find any evidence of gunfire
Ms Baker added: ‘We ran along Oxford Street and there were lots of shops with people in them, some were locked, some were still letting people in.’
But after people ran through neighbouring streets and locked themselves in basements, police played down the incident which appeared to have sparked the panic.
A police statement released at 5:40pm stated: ‘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.’
British Transport Police said they have received one report of a woman sustaining a minor injury when leaving Oxford Circus station, but there are no other reported casualties.
Armed police have been dispatched to Oxford Circus following reports of gunshots. Shoppers have been warned to stay indoors
One witness who was in Zara on Oxford Street told MailOnline that a man with a gun walked in and ‘everyone was screaming’ and they were led out of the store
Police said they are responding to the incident as if it is terror related but they have not yet recovered any casualties
The area is in lockdown and a cordon is in place while police scour the area. Scotland Yard has said they have not yet recovered any casualties
Greg Bird told MailOnline he was sat outside a coffee shop near Oxford Circus station when he saw ‘about 50 people sprinting around the corner and screaming’.
He left the scene and is unsure what is happening now but said armed police are still heading towards the station.
One witness who was in Zara on Oxford Street told MailOnline that a man with a gun walked in and ‘everyone was screaming’ and they were led out of the store.
London’s Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called at 16:38hrs on Friday, 24 November to a number of reports of shots fired on Oxford Street and 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 British Transport Police.
‘If you are on Oxford Street go into a building and stay inside until further direction.
Stunned witnesses described seeing a stampede of shoppers and the a cordon was put in place while police swarmed the area
Hundreds of commuters were evacuated from the tube station following reports of gunshots and armed police have arrived on scene and are responding ‘as if the incident is terrorist related’
‘Avoid travelling to the Oxford Street area.
‘At this stage police have not located any causalities.’
British Transport Police said that Bond Street tube station has also been closed.
A spokesman added: ‘Officers are responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus station. Officers are on scene, more information when we get it.’
Transport for London said on Twitter: ‘Oxford Circus Station is closed while we investigate a customer incident.
More to follow.
Terrified shoppers have told how they locked in the basement of a bar after gunshots were reportedly heard at Oxford Circus