Pair aged 21 and 40 attended police station voluntarily after photographs of suspects appeared following incident that sparked terror panic

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Two men have handed themselves in to police over an incident that sparked a mass evacuation at Oxford Circus tube station in central London.



Several people were injured and nine were taken to hospital, including one with leg injuries, after panic erupted in the crowded station on Friday.

Armed police raced to the Oxford Circus area after receiving 999 calls reporting that shots had been fired.

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British Transport police said the incident was believed to have started when an altercation erupted between two men on the platform.

The force said two men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily and were interviewed following an appeal.

Ch Supt Martin Fry said: “I would like to thank the public and the media for assisting us with this witness appeal.”

Stuart Crichton, London ambulance service assistant director of operations, said: “We checked over and treated several patients who sustained injuries while leaving the Oxford Circus area.

“We discharged seven patients at the scene and took eight patients to two central London hospitals for minor injuries. We also took one patient to a major trauma centre for leg injuries.”

About 90 minutes after responding, police said there was no evidence of any shots, casualties or suspects.

Play Video 0:32 Shoppers on Oxford Street in central London file into street as police respond to incident – video

The station was reopened, cordons removed and the area returned to normal, with the Royal Variety Performance at the nearby London Palladium going ahead as planned.

The Metropolitan police 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 casualties, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police.”

Anyone with any information can contact the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 with reference 405 of 24/11.