Police respond to 'shots fired' at London's Oxford Circus

November 23, 2017 11:00 pm • Last Updated: November 24, 2017 11:49 pm

The scene outside the London Palladium in the west end of London after Oxford Circus station was evacuated Friday Nov. 24, 2017. British police said Friday they were responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus subway station, one of London's busiest. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

LONDON — British police flooded London's busy Oxford Circus area Friday after receiving multiple reports of "shots fired." They have not located any casualties.

Armed and unarmed officers rushed to the shopping district, and police said they were responding "as if the incident is terrorist related." They did not, however, confirm that it was.

The busy Oxford Circus subway station was closed and police have told people in the area to take shelter in nearby stores. Witnesses on social media reported people running into nearby shops and pubs for shelter.

The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called just after 4:30 p.m. to "a number of reports of shots fired on Oxford Street and underground at Oxford Circus tube station."

Police said officers have not found any casualties.

Police advised people to avoid the area, which was packed with commuters and shoppers at the end of the working week and amid Black Friday sales.

In this grab taken from video, people run from the scene of an incident, near to Oxford Street, in London, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. British police said Friday they were responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus subway station, one of London's busiest. (AP)

People in lockdown inside the London Palladium in the west end of London after Oxford Circus station was evacuated Friday Nov. 24, 2017. British police said Friday they were responding to reports of an incident at Oxford Circus subway station, one of London's busiest. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.

STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU