We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
SIXTEEN PEOPLE WERE hurt today in London’s busy Oxford Street shopping area after reports that shots had been fired, sparking fears of a terror incident and leaving 16 people hurt as panic swept the area.
After locking down the area for more than an hour, the Metropolitan Police said officers had not found “any trace of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or casualties”.
Crowds ran from the scene, many rushing into already packed shops for safety, reflecting the nervousness in a country that has sustained five terror attacks since March.
But police later said they found no evidence of any incident, and tweeted: “Our response on #OxfordStreet has now been stood down.”
The incident showed, however, that incorrect information can spread in already panicked situations. With hundreds and possibly thousands of tweets – some from people who aren’t on scene – rumours can easily spread.
The Mail Online, one of the most visited sites in the world, reported an eyewitness account from Twitter user Dan Smallbone. Smallbone tweeted about a lorry stopped on Oxford Street with “police all around it and blood on the floor”.
The story was shared over 1,000 times and tweeted out by the site, the online arm of the Daily Mail. However, Dan Smallbone’s tweet was posted on 14 November – ten days ago. The incident he tweeted about surrounded a window cleaner hurt after falling from a building.
The Mail subsequently deleted the copy and tweets. No clarification has been posted on the site’s current story.
Misinformation
Misinformation about the incident was also spread by Pegida UK member and notorious right-wing speaker Tommy Robinson, who deleted tweets saying the incident was extremist Islamic terror.
Singer and TV presenter Olly Murs has also found himself at the centre of a row with Piers Morgan after his tweets from the scene.
Murs tweeted that there had been gunshots, something that police said they found no evidence of. However Murs, like many people, tweeted that shots had been fired.
Olly Murs / TwitterFuck everyone get out of @Selfridges now gun shots!! I’m inside
— Olly Murs (@ollymurs) November 24, 2017
The store was evacuated as a precaution. Murs later tweeted that there had been no shots and he was safe. He then clarified that the situation was confusing for shoppers.
Olly Murs / TwitterListen piers! I was shopping and then all of sudden the whole place went mad, I mean crazy people running & screaming towards exits. We found a small office to hide to which loads of staff and people were saying there was shots fired. If you was there you’d have understood mate. https://t.co/mnZBTSLod4
— Olly Murs (@ollymurs) November 24, 2017
Olly Murs / TwitterNo you listen Piers.. your comments are unfair mate. It’s Easy to say now it was nothing but in a state of shock and panic I was trying to make people aware of what was happening. Which I was lend to believe by staff and customers that someone was shooting. https://t.co/qFJRfOpqJk
— Olly Murs (@ollymurs) November 24, 2017
Murs later said:
Despite what actually happened I’m so glad it was nothing serious and I hope everyone got home safely.
British Transport Police said this evening that the evacuation was caused by “an altercation” between two men.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The news story from Alabama was actually a very positive one and voted on democratically by the people there. Pity that it’s being shown as a negative in this review
@Sinéad Talbot: okay okay we get you’re drift
@Sinéad Talbot: Its a fkin desperate piece of news. Skummy Trumps America. Full of self righteous fake Christian zealots.
@Noel Doherty: # “your”
@Sinéad Talbot: except it wasn’t. They voted to make it so the state wasn’t funding abortion, there was absolutely nothing about criminalisation. In fact they were told it wouldn’t be criminalised. But keep ignoring the truth all you want.
Yes it’s very positive to take a woman’s right to choice away from her!!I’m being sarcastic.
@Declan Heagney: when you say you’re being sarcastic is that sarcasm? It just seems a little too superfluous.
The news story from Alabama was actually a very positive one and voted on democratically by the people there. Pity that it’s being shown as a negative in this review
@Sinéad Talbot: it was NEVER voted on by the citizens of Bama and that’s total fake news as the Funky Gibbon in the White House would want you to believe Please educate yourself and don’t be so gullible
@Sinéad Talbot: We heard you already.
Anyone know why the comments on the shay lawless articles are closed. Given that Simon Coveny has now promised to assist retrieving his body with tax payer money this seems like a subject we should be able to discuss.
@Ivan Connolly: in previous articles posted on the Journal in recent days there have been a lot of very negative comments aimed at the climber and especially regarding the collections of money for someone who knew the risks involved. Many were saying that people who undertake these journeys are selfish – not thinking of anyone apart from themselves etc. and others were saying how disgraceful some of the comments were. I presume the journal weighed up the situation and thought that in this instance the needs of family and respect for the (presumably) deceased would supersede a person’s right to comment.
The news story from Alabama was actually a very positive one and voted on democratically by the people there. Pity that it’s being shown as a negative in this review
@Sinéad Talbot: will you fk off trolling please?
@Ian Breathnach: just because you disagree with Sinead’s comment you think that gives you a pass to begin a tirade of abuse? So it can snow in May after all!!
Please delete the two repeat comments of mine! It told me it didn’t post the first two times, obviously a tech error
@Sinéad Talbot: your mistake, Sinéad, you need to live with it.
@Helen Clifford: once created, posts should never be aborted…
@Sinéad Talbot: you fascist bot ….
Great news from Alabama.
have your say