Oxford Circus incident - as it happened: Police say no evidence of gunshots or attack in central London

Oxford Circus Incident: What happened?

A major police incident has come to a close after police found no evidence of gunshots or injuries.

After numerous reports suggested that there had been gunshots at Oxford Circus station, police said they were responding to the event as if it was a terror attack. But they found no evidence of any shots or attack, and apparently the many 999 calls were baseless.

The reports triggered panic on one of the world's busiest shopping streets, leading people to flee into restaurants and shops on the instruction of the police.

It came in the middle of Black Friday, when the street and station may have been even more busy than usual.

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Key Points

• Oxford Circus evacuation: Armed police clear Tube station amid reports of smoke
• Police ‘responding to incident as if terror related’ amid reports of shots fired in central London

[24 November 2017 17:37 · Andrew Griffin]

People were seen running away from Oxford Circus station in tears.A huge cordon was put in place straddling some of the capital's busiest shopping streets, which was being expanded as the situation developed, while shops on Oxford Street and Regent Street were also being evacuated.A witness at DataXu on Ramillies Street, just off Oxford Street,said several of her colleagues could hear what sounded like a shot being fired.She told the Press Association: "People have just been running past, the police have been moving away towards Tottenham Court Road."People here (colleagues) said they thought they heard a shot - one shot, or a bang."

[24 November 2017 17:42 · Andrew Griffin]

There are no reports of shots fired, Met Police have said, according to Reuters.

[24 November 2017 17:43 · Andrew Griffin]

Police say they have "not located any trace of any suspect" at the Oxford Circus incident, according to Reuters.

[24 November 2017 17:44 · Andrew Griffin]

A woman, in her 20s from Birmingham, who was visiting her brother, said she was just off Oxford Street when the incident happened - getting split up from her brother in the melee.The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I was with my brother on Argyll Street, suddenly there were lots of people panicking - it was just running and panicking."This was at around 5pm. I got split up from my brother and he is now in a shop somewhere on Argyll Street."British Transport Police said: "At this stage, we have received one report of a woman sustaining a minor injury when leaving Oxford Circus station. There are no other reported casualties."Both Oxford Circus and Bond Street Tube stations are closed.London Fire Brigade said three fire engines and 15 firefighters at the scene.An eyewitness overlooking the Tube station from his office told BBC 5 live said: "I can see about 17 police cars, lots of normal police officers, almost like an army of them."I can see a number of police officers with machine guns. They came racing up in a very fast car and ran down into Oxford Circus Tube."Now it is calming down a bit. The police presence is heavy here. It was amazing to see the super quick response."

[24 November 2017 17:45 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's the Met's full statement:

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.

[24 November 2017 17:49 · Andrew Griffin]

Oxford Circus has re-opened.

[24 November 2017 17:54 · Andrew Griffin]

The incident appears to be coming to an end, as police look for any evidence of the events.

[24 November 2017 17:54 · Andrew Griffin]

British police say they have found no evidence of any shots being fired after reports of gunfire sparked panic in the heart of London.Police descended on the area around Oxford Circus, one of London's busiest subway stations, after reports of shots being fired. Thousands of people ran in panic or took shelter in stores along busy Oxford Street. About an hour after the first reports, the Metropolitan Police force said "police have not located any trace of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or causalities." They say people in the area should leave and that those inside buildings should remain there. 

[24 November 2017 17:58 · Andrew Griffin]

Students Chelsea and Jingxi, 21 and 23, were having coffee in Hanover Street. "We were sitting in the basement having a coffee when about 10 people came running in, they looked terrified," said Chelsea, who is on an exchange in Belfast from Washington DC.

"Then someone started screaming 'lock the doors'. The staff locked the doors and we just waited. Everyone just found the nearest corner to hide in."

[24 November 2017 17:59 · Andrew Griffin]

William and Kate are due to attend the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium tonight, but it's not clear whether that will still be going ahead.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: "I hope everyone is OK following recent reports at Oxford Circus.

"We don't have an update on the event right now, but will get in touch with you as soon as we do."