The people responsible for disorder in London’s Oxford Street should be “hunted down and locked up”, Suella Braverman has said, as she likened it to “lawlessness seen in American cities”.
Nine people were arrested after an incident in the famous shopping street in the capital city on Wednesday, following posts on social media appearing to encourage mass disorder.
Sharing a video on social media, of police making arrests, the home secretary posted: “We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness seen in some American cities to come to the streets of the UK. and she added that “The police have my full backing to do whatever necessary to ensure public order. “Those responsible must be hunted down & locked up. I expect nothing less from the @metpoliceuk and have requested a full incident report.”
Two people were held in Essex for conspiracy to commit robbery following the online social media posts, while others were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and going equipped to steal. Police also issued 34 dispersal orders as crowds gathered in the busy street.
Two young men were led away from an area near a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in handcuffs, close to a shop rumoured to be the target of the disturbance.
Police earlier announced they would deploy a “significant number” of officers to the central London shopping street over the next 24 hours – responding to reports of a “shoplifting” event on social media platforms.
A post on social media appeared to promote an organised “robbery” of an Oxford Street store, with a date, time and even a dress code. “Don’t come if you can’t run,” the post said. It also urged people not to bring weapons.