Horrifying pictures have revealed three huge knives seized after 11 people were arrested at one of Britain’s biggest shopping centres in a Boxing Day fight.
Shoppers fled from a packed Westfield shopping centre at about 2.30pm yesterday following reports of a riot between ‘rival gangs’ that injured two police officers.
Dramatic photographs showed dozens of officers and stewards trying to control crowds on the ground floor of the centre in Stratford, East London.
One of the horrifying knives seized at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, East London, yesterday, as police arrested 11 people for a variety of offences including violent disorder
Shoppers fled from a packed Westfield shopping centre following reports of a riot between ‘rival gangs’ that injured two police officers – and this is one of the knives that was seized
Two officers were treated in hospital for minor injuries after the incident, and this is one of the knives that was seized by the Metropolitan Police
Scotland Yard said 11 people were arrested for a variety of offences at Westfield including violent disorder, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
Two officers were treated in hospital for minor injuries, and a Section 60 order giving police more stop and search powers was in place until 10.30pm.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 2.34pm on Tuesday to reports of disturbances at Westfield Stratford City in Montfichet Road.
‘Officers attended and additional high-visibility patrols were deployed, and groups causing the disorder were dispersed.
‘A total of 11 people were arrested for a variety of offences, and two knives were recovered. Two police officers have received hospital treatment for minor injuries.’
Westfield described the incident as a ‘minor disturbance’, denied reports that the centre had been evacuated and insisted that it was still ‘trading as normal’ today.
Police descended upon Westfield shopping centre in Stratford last night after reports of a riot between ‘rival gangs’
Social media photos appeared to show a large number of police officers and stewards trying to control crowds on the ground floor of the shopping centre in Westfield
Several police vans remained outside the building after people were allowed to continue their Boxing Day shopping
It came after hundreds of people fled House of Fraser on London’s Oxford Street, where people thought they heard gunfire – a claim later debunked by police.
Shoppers took to Twitter to describe the chaos at Westfield yesterday, with hundreds of people affected while shopping for Boxing Day sales.
One said: ‘Not entirely sure what happened at Westfield, whether it was a prank or gang fight but all I know is that was the most terrifying experience of my life.
‘All I saw was a stampede of screaming people coming towards me and poor kids being trampled on.’
Some shoppers also claimed there was a ‘gang fight’. One said: ‘Please avoid Westfield Stratford shopping centre. Big chaos going on because of gang fight.’
A post on Facebook claimed that fights had broken out inside the shopping centre. It said: ‘Avoid Westfield!
Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated from Westfield shopping centre in Stratford amid reports of a Boxing Day riot
Pictures posted on social media showed hundreds of Boxing Day shoppers affected after security staff evacuated Westfield in Stratford
Users took to social media to warn people to avoid the shopping centre saying that gang fights had broken out inside
‘I had to rush there because my daughter and my niece were stuck inside where fights were breaking out and police vans and ambulances were rushing to the scene.
‘Shops being smashed and most exits in Westfield have been blocked due to the incidents.’
A Westfield spokesman told MailOnline today: ‘There was a minor disturbance at Westfield Stratford City yesterday afternoon which was resolved quickly.
‘The centre was not evacuated and is trading as normal. The Centre is open until 10pm tonight for the Boxing Day sales period.’
Meanwhile, on Oxford Street, at least one woman was injured after chaos broke out upon reports of a smashed window at House of Fraser.
Hundreds of Boxing Day shoppers reportedly fled House of Fraser in the chaos, but police say there is ‘nothing to indicate shots fired’ or ‘criminal offences’ occurred at the store on London’s Oxford Street
Photos from the scene show smashed window to the House of Fraser building, in front of a display for Swarovski Crystals
About an hour after the window was smashed, workers were seen cleaning up the glass in front of House of Fraser
A police officer at the scene told MailOnline that it was ‘nothing serious’ and the window being smashed ‘just an accident’
Hundreds of Boxing Day shoppers reportedly fled the store after believing they heard gunfire – but police say there is ‘nothing to indicate shots fired’ or ‘criminal offences’ occurred at the store.
About an hour after the incident, a police officer at the scene told MailOnline that it was ‘nothing serious’ and the window being smashed ‘just an accident’.
‘Everything is back to normal now,’ the police officer near the scene on Henrietta Place, at the back of House of Fraser, said.
The hurt woman is believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her head while fleeing House of Fraser.
Photos from the scene show smashed window to the House of Fraser building, in front of a display for Swarovski Crystals.
People at the scene reported on social media that shoppers were evacuated from the store and police and an ambulance had arrived.
People at the scene reported on social media that shoppers were evacuated from the store and police and an ambulance had arrived
The incident near Oxford Street happened at the back of House of Fraser, on Henrietta Place
Police were called to the scene just after 4.50pm.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: ”Local officers and armed officers are on scene in Oxford Street, W1. They responded to reports of shots heard.
‘Nothing to indicate shots fired. One woman with non-life threatening injuries as a result of a fall.’
Police added: ‘There is nothing to indicate that shots have been fired or any criminal offences have occurred.’
It remains unclear what exactly how the window was smashed. Both Westfield Stratford and Oxford Street have faced chaotic incidents in recent months.
In November, armed police were called to Oxford Streets to false reports of gunshots after hundreds of panicked shoppers fled the area.
The hurt woman is believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her head while fleeing House of Fraser, pictured above after the incident
The glass outside House of Fraser was quickly cleaned up outside the store and people were allowed back inside
In November, armed police were called to Oxford Streets to false reports of gunshots after hundreds of panicked shoppers fled the area
Thousands of shoppers took to Oxford Street on Boxing Day to check out the deals stores in the area were having
The pavement on Oxford Street was nearly unwalkable on Tuesday as thousands of shoppers descended upon the area
According to reports, a decrease for in-store shopping is expected while online purchases are rising during after Christmas sales
Oxford Circus station, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road Tube stations were closed in the incident, but police said they ‘found no evidence of gun shots’ and ‘no suspects’.
At Westfield Stratford, a man was arrested in September after one man was stabbed and another was injured as customers reported seeing ‘blood all over the floor’.
Police were called to what was described by someone as a ‘mass brawl’ at the shopping complex where one stunned customer shared a photo on social media of officers and onlookers surrounding what appeared to be a man lying motionless on the floor, as passers-by held hands to their mouths in distress.
The Met Police said at the time that they were called at to reports of a fight near Stratford station before they arrested a male on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.