Two suspected ringleaders who allegedly brought forth a day of chaos and TikTok-inspired looting on London’s Oxford Street were arrested on Wednesday. British prankster Mizzy was handed a dispersal order for being in the area after breaching a court order.
Worried shoppers and staff were reportedly locked inside stores and closed their venues after large groups of young people gathered in the area after rumors spread on social media that they were going to “rob JD Sports” and shoplift from other areas, per Daily Mail.
Several videos spread across social media, showing large swathes of young people running along Oxford Street and ultimately clashing with the Metropolitan Police, who wielded batons and chased after people. The report noted that police issued a total of 34 dispersal orders, including one to TikTok prankster Mizzy, who was seen and stopped by the police after failing to appear before magistrates for breaching a court order. Mizzy claimed that he was in the area to see a movie with a friend. There is no evidence that he was involved in the chaos. He said: “I didn't do nothing, I didn't start that event, that event has nothing to do with me. I did not go around telling people to loot shops, because that's bummy behaviour.”
The chaos was apparently ignited by social media posts that suggested people show up to “rob” JD Sports and other stores. It was also suggested that no one show up “if you can’t run,” adding that no one should bring weapons.
The Met’s City of Westminster Police Twitter account claimed that officers had not responded to a looting incident, but that they had “responded to a disturbance from within the group of people outside the Microsoft store…”
Seven people were arrested at the scene, and two others were detained for online social media posts related to the event, per the report.
The police issued a statement, saying: “Throughout Wednesday, August 9, officers maintained a high visibility presence within the Oxford Street area.”
“As of 8.15pm officers have issued 34 people with dispersal orders and made nine arrests.”
“Four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the dispersal order, one person was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal, one person arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one person was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.”
“Earlier in the afternoon officers arrested two people in Essex for conspiracy to commit robbery following online social media posts.”
