Armed police were called to The Oval after a crossbow bolt landed on the pitch during a county cricket match.

More than 1,000 fans were advised to take cover and evacuated from the central London cricket ground after the projectile fell to the ground.

Play between Surrey and Middlesex was suspended as players were told to go inside, before the game was later abandoned.

There were no reported injuries and police said it is believed the projectile came from outside the ground.

Image: Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart briefs police outside The Oval

"There have been no arrests," a Met Police spokesperson said.


"We retain an open mind as to motive. At this stage, the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related."

Surrey County County Cricket Club chief executive Richard Gould told Sky News: "We don't know if were deliberately targeted or whether someone has been irresponsibly firing this sort of thing outside the ground.

"Living and working in central London, the threat is always with us.

Surrey cricket boss on arrow landing on pitch

"The threat of a crossbow bolt is not something that has ever been faced for as long as I can remember.

"We will review this and see if there are other measures that can be taken."

Tweeting about the incident, Surrey player Stuart Meaker described the projectile as a "metal-tipped arrow".

Cricket fan David Schofield said he was told by three armed officers that it is believed two arrows were fired into the ground.

Image: Police outside The Oval in central London

"They said there were two fired from the north east corner of the OCS stand of which one, they think, hit the roof," he said.

"They were definite it was from outside the stand."

Officials decided to abandon the match, with the result being called as a draw.