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LATEST: Armed police have been stood down and two London Underground stations have reopened following reports of gunshots being fired at Oxford Circus. Police say they received reports of shots being fired in a number of locations near Oxford Street, saying there was “significant” panic.
Officers said they had not located “any trace” of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or casualties. Oxford Circus and Bond Street Tube stations have both reopened.
There are reports of firing at Oxford Circus. BBC reporter Helen Bushby said she had seen a “mass stampede” of people running away from the station.
Earlier Reports- Armed police are responding to reports of shots being fired at London’s Oxford Circus Tube station.
The Met said it was responding as if the incident was terrorist related and urged people on nearby Oxford Street to take cover inside buildings.
In a statement on Twitter, British Transport Police said: “We continue to respond to an incident at Oxford Circus.
“The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene.”
The BBC’s Helen Bushby said she had seen people “screaming and crying”.
She spoke to a group of young women at Topshop, on Oxford Street, who said people had dropped their shopping and ran as quickly as they could.
Greg Owen, 37, from London, said he was at Oxford Circus station when people began running away.
“I was next to the tube station and everyone started screaming and shouting and then a flood of people came up the stairs,” he added.