Police arrest five as crowds gather on Oxford Street after social media rumours
Police have arrested five people and issued 24 dispersal orders after crowds caused disruption on London’s Oxford Street, following social media rumours of a planned robbery.
Two young men were seen being led away near a McDonald’s close to a shop rumoured to be the target of the disturbance. The men, one wearing a green hoodie and the other a grey tracksuit, were apprehended by police before being handcuffed.
The incident was an apparent response to posts shared widely on Snapchat and TikTok urging users to take part in an “Oxford Circus JD robbery”.
Nearby shops including an optician and pharmacy closed their shutters briefly shortly after 3pm on Wednesday, as crowds gathered on the busy West End shopping street. There was a heavy police and security presence.
Traffic was temporarily brought to a halt, until four mounted police officers alongside security personnel were able to disperse onlookers.
On Tuesday, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, urged people not to take part in any disturbance.
He said: I am worried about this nonsense we have seen on TikTok encouraging people to go to Oxford Street. The police understand why some people may be tempted to go to that part of London because of the TikTok.
“I’d encourage anybody who’s seen it not to go to Oxford Street. Do not allow yourself to be sucked into an area that could be high crime area.
“It won’t be (a high crime area) because the police work incredibly hard with the local community with the retailers in that part of London, and with those citizens who want to have a good day out on Oxford Street tomorrow rather than being worried about that sort of nonsense.”
City of Westminster Police said: “Officers are continuing to provide a reassuring presence within the Oxford Street area. We have issued 24 dispersal orders and arrested five people.”
Dispersal orders provide the police with extra powers to break up groups of two or more people, where they believe their behaviour is causing a nuisance, harassment or distress.
Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street, with about half a million daily visitors.
