UPDATE: London’s Metropolitan Police tweeted: “We have not located any trace of suspects, evidence of shots fired or casualties. Officers still on scene. If you are in a building stay there, if you are on the street in #OxfordStreet leave the area. Officers continue to search the area. More updates as soon as we have them.”
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When police say they’re responding “as if the incident is terrorist related,” it’s unlikely they’re referring to an action by “right-wing extremists.” This is generally understood to mean that this is an Islamic jihad attack. So if this does turn out to be a jihad terror attack, how long before the first establishment media report that Muslims in London are bracing for an “anti-Muslim backlash”?
“BREAKING NEWS: Hundreds evacuated from Oxford Circus ‘as gunshots are fired’ and armed police surround tube station while shoppers are locked in stores,” by Stewart Paterson, Mailonline, November 24, 2017:
Hundreds have been evacuated from Oxford Circus tube station amid reports of gunshots at the tube station and on Oxford Street.
Armed police have arrived on scene and are responding ‘as if the incident is terrorist related’ after reports of shots fired.
Hundreds of terrified shoppers who had flocked to the street on the one of the busiest days of the year fled the streets as police forced everyone into stores.
The area is now in lockdown, however it is still unclear if this is gang-related.
Greg Bird told MailOnline he was sat outside a coffee shop near Oxford Circus station when he saw ‘about 50 people sprinting around the corner and screaming’.
He left the scene and is unsure what is happening now but said armed police are still heading towards the station.
One witness who was in Zara on Oxford Street told MailOnline that a man with a gun walked in and ‘everyone was screaming’ and they were led out of the store.
London’s Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called at 16:38hrs on Friday, 24 November to a number of reports of shots fired on Oxford Street and underground at Oxford Circus tube station.
‘Police have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene and dealing along with colleagues from British Transport Police.
‘If you are on Oxford Street go into a building and stay inside until further direction.
‘At this stage police have not located any causalities.’
British Transport Police said that Bond Street tube station has also been closed. …