SHOPPERS FLEE IN ‘GUNSHOTS’ PANIC
Tube ‘gang fight’ sparks Black Friday terror alert
PANICKED Black Friday shoppers fled yesterday amid fears of a terrorist gun rampage.
Armed police raced to the scene as bargain-hunters packed the area on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The scare in central London started when passengers at Oxford Circus Tube station reported gunshots.
The alert spread to nearby Oxford Street, where shoppers and staff were ordered to stay indoors. Singer Olly Murs was caught up in the chaos. He tweeted: “F*** everyone get out of @ Selfridges now gun shots!! I’m inside. Really not sure what’s happened! I’m in the back office but people screaming and running towards exits!”
Prince William and wife Kate were an hour late for the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium theatre due to the disturbance. The Metropolitan Police later said there was no evidence of shots fired or casualties.
They earlier tweeted: “Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers on scene.”
Last night a witness said a “gang fight” in the Tube station triggered the panic. Pharmacist Alyssa Puddle, 25, said: “I saw the fight on the westbound side of the platform that involved about 20 people.”
British Transport Police added that a woman suffered a minor injury leaving Oxford Circus station.
The alert overshadowed yesterday’s shopping frenzy in which £2.6billion was spent, with another £5bn set to be paid out over the weekend and on Cyber Monday.