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Blast chaos on Oxford Street
BRITAIN’S busiest shopping street was thrown into rush-hour chaos on Monday following a mystery underground explosion.
Shocked eye-witnesses told how paving stones were ripped apart and smoke billowed into the air outside the Marks And Spencer store, near Marble Arch, on Oxford Street just after 5pm.
The street was sealed off by police and several flagship stores – including M&S and River Island – were forced to pull down their shutters.
Buses were diverted and huge tailbacks developed through central London, creating traffic gridlock.
Media executive Jon Furniss, who was shopping on Oxford Street, told how many people began to panic when they saw smoke and the damaged pavement.
He said: “Several people began to panic when they saw the smoke and so many police at the scene.
“The main damage appeared to be opposite Marks And Spencer, where part of the pavement was ripped apart.
“It’s a miracle no one was hurt in the blast, but it caused absolute traffic chaos.
“All the buses were being turned around and there were huge tailbacks.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “We were called out to smoke coming from an electrical box on a walkway that had exploded.”
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