A viral text message, warning of a terrorist attack on London’s tube network on Monday morning, has been branded a hoax by police.
The text led to widespread panic amongst commuters who began spreading warnings across social media, with some London employers alerting office workers to plan alternative methods of transport to work for this morning.
The ‘warning’ text message alerted commuters of a specific threat to the tube planned for today, and stated that all Metropolitan Police officers had been called in to start work at 4am.
This is the “completely untrue” text warning of a London terror attack that has gone viral: http://t.co/xBqqkQcgIU pic.twitter.com/DNCBP9V313
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) August 31, 2014
Police have since reassured commuters that there was no added threat to public transport this morning, with a Metropolitan spokesman confirming the message was a hoax, saying “this rumour is completely untrue.”
Chief Superintendent Paul Brogden – British Transport Police’s Division Commander for London, added on Twitter:
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
According to the Mirror.co.uk, rumours began circulating after the UK’s terror threat level was raised from “substantial” to “severe” on Friday, in response to increasing concerns over Islamic State militants’ activity in the Middle East.
