Regent Street in London evacuated after 'a number of controlled explosions'

Regent Street has been shut due to a police incident, with shoppers and workers on one of England's most iconic streets affected. Reports from the area suggest this is due to a 'bomb threat' which originated from a building behind New Burlington Place.

Members of the public are being ushered away from the scene towards Oxford Circus, it has emerged, on Wednesday (January 8). Six London bus routes - 12, 88, 94, 139, 159 and 453 - have been diverted away from the scene, reports say.

Transport for London has disrupted its bus network in the wake of the dramatic incident. A video posted on X of the scene shows the police cordon with members of the public being ushered away from the scene towards Oxford Circus.

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The area has been cordoned off since about 1pm this afternoon. Eyewitnesses at the scene have said the police allegedly set off two controlled explosions and the street remains closed at the time of publication on Wednesday.

Police have closed off Regent Street between Conduit Street and Vigo Street in both directions. Traffic monitoring service INRIX says this has led to heavy congestion in the area, with six London buses currently under diversion.

Members of the public are reportedly being ushered away from the scene. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed its investigation is centred around a suspicious vehicle.

A spokesperson said: "Road closures are in place in the vicinity of Regent Street and New Burlington Street while officers investigate a suspicious vehicle. Officers have carried out a number of controlled explosions as a precautionary measure."

Reports from the scene suggest the vehicle had tinted windows. It was found in either Regent Street or New Burlington Street. One witness said: "We got reports of a bomb threat in a building behind New Burlington Place.

"One of the members heard an explosion and police have been evacuating the streets."