olice have made a number of arrests as crowds descended on Oxford Street following social media rumours of planned disorder in the West End.
The Metropolitan Police launched a high-profile operation to protect shops along the thoroughfare on Wednesday following speculation that mass looting might be about to break out.
Mounted police officers and vans of officers were dispatched after an appeal was posted on social media for crowds to descend on Oxford Street.
It comes after a previous incident in which a mob rampaged through a candy shop in the area, looting stock and then posting footage. The event advertised for Wednedsay afternoon similarly called for a large group to storm the street.
Two young men were led away from near a McDonald’s restaurant in handcuffs close to a shop rumoured to be the target of TikTok-organised disorder.
Nearby shops including an optician and pharmacy closed their shutters briefly shortly after 3pm and crowds gathered on the busy street to watch the scene.
Traffic was temporarily brought to a halt and four mounted police officers alongside security personnel tried to disperse onlookers.
There was a heavy police and security presence on the popular shopping street after rumours of a planned disorder.
In an update on Wednesday evening, police said they had arrested five people and issued 24 disporsal orders.
A dispersal zone was put in place from 11am on Tuesday to 10am on Thursday, giving police officers the power to exclude people from the area for 48 hours.
Anyone who does not comply can be arrested.
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.
The dispersal zone includes a number of Tube stations, among them Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Covent Garden.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan earlier urged people not to go to Oxford Street to take part in “nonsense” spread on social media.
Mr Khan told the PA news agency: “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.”
The Met Police said on Twitter: “We are aware of online speculation about opportunities to commit crime around Oxford Street.
“There will be a significant number of our officers in the area over the next 24 hours. Anyone committing a crime can expect to be dealt with robustly.”
A police spokesperson told PA: “We are working very closely with our partners, including the New West End company, to ensure that any criminal behaviour is dealt with quickly.
“If you see or hear anything suspicious in relation to this activity is asked to us on 999 in an emergency or 101 if it is a non-emergency.”
Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street, with about half a million daily visitors.
