A busy shopping street in London was evacuated this afternoon due to a false bomb threat.
Shops and restaurants on Regent Street were evacuated around 2pm today while police investigated a ‘suspicious vehicle’.
Footage shows terrified customers running from the area after police ordered them to leave ‘immediately’.
The short clip, posted on X, shows people fleeing through the streets in panic as alarms go off in the background.
Bystanders were told to stand behind a police cordon set up near the Royal Academy.
After the area was evacuated, police moved in to conduct a number of controlled explosions near the vehicle.
The explosion shattered the window of the car, a ‘precautionary measure’.
An eyewitness told The Standard: ‘They have evacuated the entire street and are carrying out a controlled explosion.
Metropolitan Police officers stormed and cordoned off the iconic Mayfair Street, along with nearby New Burlington Street, as they investigated the potential threat.
Footage posted on social media shows terrified customers running from the area as numerous alarms can be heard around them.
“There was just a loud bang and the police moved everyone further away.”
Another Regent Street worker said: ‘We heard a lot of sirens and a bomb squad vehicle arrived.’
The iconic high street is particularly busy this month as people flock to the area for the January sales.
But a video posted online showed the streets completely deserted after today’s evacuation, with the caption: ‘I’m still in the office on Regent Street. Very creepy. I heard at least one explosion.’
The fire brigade has also been on site and is supporting the police. It is clear that normal activities will return soon.
A spokesman for The Met said: ‘Road closures are in place in the area of Regent Street and New Burlington Street while officers investigate a suspicious vehicle.
Regent Street in London is closed this afternoon as police evacuate the area following reports of a ‘suspicious vehicle’
Buildings along Regent Street in central London were evacuated on Wednesday
But a video posted online showed the streets completely deserted after today’s evacuation
When the evacuation was complete, police carried out a number of controlled explosions on the vehicle as a ‘precautionary measure’.
‘Officers carried out a number of controlled explosions as a precaution.
“This incident has now been completely stopped. The vehicle did not appear to be suspicious.”
Westminster Police also confirmed the incident had been stopped, saying: ‘This incident has now been completely stopped. The vehicle did not appear to be suspicious.”