Social media and text messages warning about London tube attack are hoaxes, police insist
Warnings on social media that the London Underground will be targeted by terrorists today, 1 September, are a hoax, the Metropolitan police has said.
Tweets were sent suggesting that a terror attack would happen “around the West End” on London, following the terror threat being raised to severe on Friday, 29 August.
They think there's a terror threat and that it will happen on the tubes tomorrow around the west end area.
— Muslimah4Life (@Seeking4Good243) September 1, 2014
A text message (pictured) was also sent around, from someone claiming to have a friend on the met police force. The message said that police officers were working from 4am onward and that “people on holiday are being told to catch the next flight home” to deal with the threat. However, a spokesperson of the Met said that this was a “definite hoax”, adding "These rumours are not uncommon. The only thing that gives them any credence is people re-tweeting them and circulating them." chief superintendent Paul Brognal of the British Transport Police took to Twitter to reassure the public.
Social media contains lots of rumours regarding threats to tube network tomorrow. There is no specific threat so keep calm & carry on. 1/2 — Ch Supt Paul Brogden (@BTP_B_Division) August 31, 2014