Two men hand themselves in to police after fight broke out on the Tube sparking Oxford Circus mayhem

TWO men have handed themselves into police after a fight on a Tube platform sparked mayhem at Oxford Circus last night.

Hundreds of shoppers were forced to flee in fear on Friday evening, with 16 people injured, as police confirmed the mass stampede had been triggered by an altercation and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

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British Transport Police (BTP) have now confirmed that two men, aged 21 and 40, have been interviewed after they attended a cop station "voluntarily" following an appeal by investigators.

Police tweeted: "We appealed for information following an incident at Oxford Circus yesterday. Since the appeal two men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily and were interviewed.

"Thank you to everyone who helped to share the appeal. The investigation continues."

Earlier, authorities released CCTV images of two men they believed would be able to assist them with their enquiries into the incident.

Officers who rushed to the scene had been unable to find any suspects, or evidence of shots being fired after receiving several 999 calls on Friday night.

And with London on high alert after a string of recent terror attacks, thousands of Black Friday customers were left traumatised by the terrifying incident.

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Cops were on high alert after receiving reports of shots being fired around Oxford Street and Oxford Circus underground station on Friday night.

A Met Police spokesman said: "At 16:38hrs on Friday, 24 November police started to receive numerous 999 calls within a short space of time reporting shots fired in a number of locations on Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus underground station.

"Given the nature of the information received, the Met responded in line with our existing operation as if the incident was terrorism, including the deployment of armed officers."

They said they had carried out an "urgent" search of the area but had been unable to find any evidence of shots being fired.

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A Met Police spokesman said: "To date police have not located any trace of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or causalities. Officers continue to work with colleagues from British Transport Police in the area of Oxford Circus."

Seven people were treated at the scene, with another nine taken to hospital - including one rushed to a major trauma centre for leg injuries.

Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations were reopened about 90 minutes after the initial calls, with shoppers allowed to leave after being holed up in stores.

It was earlier reported by other publications that a lorry had smashed into pedestrians on the busy shopping street.

The information had been based on a tweet posted more than a week ago and unrelated to today's incident.

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Chief Superintendent Martin Fry passed on his thanks over how the public dealt with the incident, saying: "Thank you to everyone for bearing with us this evening and also to colleagues from all the emergency services who helped carry out a swift response.

"Our officers, alongside those from the MPS, reacted quickly and responded professionally in line with our well prepared plans.

“I know incidents like these can cause concern, but our officers are highly visible around the network and across the country."

Shoppers were pictured packed inside department stores on the UK's busiest shopping street, with many revealing how they were left shaking in fear.

Former Sun man Gavin Glicksman was at the scene, saying: "I turned back into Carnaby Street and everyone was running in the other direction.

"It was obvious that people were trying to get out as quickly as possible.

"People were saying they heard a gun."

It comes on one of the busiest nights for the station as Black Friday shoppers made their way home.

Another witness, Boots pharmacist Alyssa Puddle, claimed a gang fight had triggered mass panic, saying: "It was an absolute nightmare. I was on the platform waiting for the train and it was completely packed.

"There were hundreds of people standing with their Black Friday shopping waiting to get home, and some people were not in the best mood.

"I saw a group of 20 lads walking down the westbound platform in one direction, and two other men coming the other way."

The 25-year-old added: "My view was blocked, so I'm not sure what started the fight, but the next second a woman was screaming as if something terrible had happened. They must have bumped into each other and started it from there.

"Because it was so busy people were just being sucked into the fight and shoved around. I got forced up against a wall as the brawl got bigger.

"More people were screaming and shouting and I saw several punches fly.

"Eventually the larger group grabbed one of the other men by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to the edge of the platform.

"There was a train coming and it looked like he would be pushed onto the tracks. It was horrifying."

The young woman, originally from Cwmbran, South Wales, said: "Everyone panicked and started shouting to get the guy away from the platform edge.

"When the train came up to the platform the fight stopped and the group moved off.

"I jumped on the train to get away, and that's when they made the announcement to evacuate the station.

"All I could see before it pulled away was a herd of people surging towards to the stairs to escape."

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Sun Online's Ben Bailey was at Bond Street tube station as panic broke out.

He said: "Everyone was screaming and running back down the escalators.

"There was an almighty crush to get back on the carriage. People were crying and shouting.

"A woman screaming 'my baby' was being crushed in the panic.

"People were shouting 'gun' and we were all running.

"A man fell and his face was covered in blood. I helped a woman who smacked her head on the ground. We thought there was an attack on the Tube. Everyone was terrified."

Others caught up in the panic spoke of terrified people dashing for cover on what is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Many shops were put on lockdown with one social media user tweeting: "We have been locked in Zara Oxford circus until “the situation is under control” - said an announcement after people panicked and ran for cover into the changing rooms."

One witness wrote on Twitter: "Hiding in @Pret. They've locked all the doors because there's gun shots and people running down Carnaby and Oxford Street. Stay safe".

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Rebecca Mitcham, 19, from Welwyn said: “We were coming out of John Lewis and people were just screaming and running towards Bond Street.

“It was total panic and people saying there was shooting and to run away.

“Your instinct is to run but we had to come back because our friend was behind the cordon.”

Robert Kosic, 29, from Morden, South London said: “People were telling each other to run and you fear the worst.

“I was running with them but obviously I didn’t know why. Sometimes panic can spread quickly and maybe that’s what happened.”