Police have arrested nine people and issued 34 dispersal orders after an incident in London’s Oxford Street, following rumors on social media of a planned disorder.
Two people have been arrested in Essex on conspiracy to commit robbery following posts on online social media, while others have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and being equipped to rob.
Two young men were led in handcuffs near a shop rumored to be the target of the riot.
Unverified images shared on social media appeared to show TikTok personality Mizzy speaking with an officer at the event on Wednesday.
The notorious social media content creator, whose real name is Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, has become notorious for various pranks, including breaking into a family’s home without permission.
strong police presence
Nearby shops, including an optician and a pharmacy, closed their shutters briefly after 3 p.m. as crowds gathered on the busy street.
Two of the men, one in a green hoodie and the other in a gray tracksuit, were detained by police before being handcuffed.
Traffic on the crowded street was temporarily brought to a halt, until four mounted police officers along with security personnel were able to disperse the onlookers.
There was a heavy police and security presence on the popular shopping street in the buildup to the riots, after rumors of a planned disorder circulated on social media.
In a statement, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Our officers have issued 11 dispersal orders. We will deal firmly with anyone who comes to the West End with the intention of committing a crime.”
Dispersal orders give police additional powers to break up groups of two or more when they believe their behavior is causing annoyance, harassment or distress.
Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in Europe, with around 500,000 daily visitors.