A gorilla that sparked an emergency after breaking out of its enclosure at London Zoo did so in tribute to killed primate Harambe, social media users say.

News the primate was on the loose instantly prompted speculation among social media users that the animal intended to begin "an uprising for Harambe", the gorilla shot and killed by staff in May at Cincinatti Zoo after it grabbed a child who had fallen into its enclosure.

One Twitter user wrote: "Gorilla on the loose in London zoo, they are starting an uprising for Harambe."

Another suggested the gorilla escaping meant "the spirit of Harambe" was "alive".

Some compared the incident with Independence Day, writing: "Do it for Harambe".

Police later told The Independent the "incident had been concluded", with reports the escaped gorilla had been recaptured.

An employee at London Zoo reportedly said the primate was a western lowland gorilla that goes by the name of Kumbuka.

The member of staff told BuzzFeed News: "He’s a f****** psycho, that ape. He’s smashed the enclosure glass a couple of times."