Police swarmed to the popular area (Picture: seok_nam95)

Police have found no evidence of casualties, suspects or shots fired and have stood down from the incident in central London.

The Met Police said they received a number of 999 calls alerting them to a suspected shooting at Oxford Circus Tube station and on Oxford Street.

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Shocking footage showed people desperately fleeing from the area following the reports of an incident at 4.40pm on Friday.

The area was in lockdown as armed police patrolled the station looking for suspects.


However, Tube stations in the area that had been closed have now reopened and trains are running normally.

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Oxford Circus was shut as police responded to the incident (Picture: AP)

The incident took place in a busy area in central London (Picture: Google Maps)

Something happening on #oxfordcircus – Hope everyone is ok!!! pic.twitter.com/M5UQ1VNsNz — Charlotte Terry (@CharlotteTerry1) November 24, 2017

A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘Given the nature of the information received, the Met responded in line with our existing operation as if the incident was terrorism, including the deployment of armed officers.



‘Officers working with colleagues from British Transport Police carried out an urgent search of the area. No causalities, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police.

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‘Some cordons remain in place and additional officers remain on duty in the West End to reassure the public.’

Police previously urged anyone nearby to leave the area or seek refuge in a building as they carried out an operation.

Paramedics treated a number of people who were hurt leaving the Tube station, with nine taken to hospital, London Ambulance Service said.

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Police urged anyone at the scene to enter buildings for safety reasons (Picture: Getty)

Armed police were at the scene (Picture: Getty)

The area was in lockdown (Picture: Reuters)

Maddness in selfridges oxford street everyone stay safe #selfridges pic.twitter.com/gzCI7Y6ZnO — king (@Somalikingg) November 24, 2017

A woman in her 20s from Birmingham, who was visiting the capital with her brother, 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.’

Pop star Olly Murs was also caught up in the incident.

In a string of tweets, he wrote: ‘F**k everyone get out of Selfridges now gun shots!! I’m inside.

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TFL Jam cam view of Oxford Circus. Looks like there's a lot of police and the area is in lockdown. Probably best to avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/rzdmViV2Yv — Phil Verney (@philverney) November 24, 2017

Oxford Circus tube station has been evacuated, police say they are responding to reports of an incident pic.twitter.com/J8ZbgHLgpR — Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) November 24, 2017

‘Really not sure what’s happened! I’m in the back office… but people screaming and running towards exits!

‘Evacuating store now!!! F**k heart is pounding.’

He later said that he was safe in a hotel, adding that people in the store ‘went crazy’ in the aftermath of the incident.

As well as Oxford Circus, nearby Bond Street station was closed to avoid overcrowding, but both stations have since reopened.

British Transport Police said one woman sustained a minor injury while leaving the station.

In a statement, BTP 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. More updates to follow.’

Office In Carnaby Street, everyone staying down after the gun shots? pic.twitter.com/Uo6CgTlST0 — ??‍♀️ (@lexdayana_) November 24, 2017

Shops closing their doors and pulling down the shutters on Carnaby Street. People running away from #OxfordCircus pic.twitter.com/cGHimrfzNA — Jessica Vince (@Jessie_Vee) November 24, 2017

Oxford Circus in chaos. Not sure what’s going on!? pic.twitter.com/gH6fqrZitI — Scott (@scottychops) November 24, 2017