Oxford Street chaos as shops looted, Ferrari jumped on and police assaulted in Central London

Police could be seen struggling to contain the crowds as some small groups ran riot

Central London was a scene of chaos on Friday evening as crowds of youths ran riot through the busy Oxford Circus area looting shops, fighting, jumping on luxury cars, and assaulting police officers. Met Police have confirmed that several people have been arrested as a result of the disorder which they were called to just before 6pm on August 12.

Videos being shared online show crowds of youths running around the roads in the area, at one point several boys jumping on to the back of a red Ferrari supercar as it tries to make its way down the street. Later on a number of people could be seen pouring out of an American Candy Shop on Oxford Street with armfuls of apparently stolen goods.

Police later confirmed that several groups were going around shops stealing a number of different items. Police could also be seen trying to tame the crowd, with several police vans visible in the area and a helicopter overhead as at least one youth was arrested in the street by officers while the crowd watched on.

"Officers responded. Several pockets of youths are reported to have entered a number of shops and stolen various items. Several arrests have been made for theft and assault on police. Police continue work to disperse them. A Section 60 and Section 35 Dispersal Order are in place. The National Police Air Service provided assistance."

The scenes, which have ben going viral in a series of TikTok videos, have shocked Londoners. Writing on Twitter, Shohaib said: "What's all this I'm hearing about central London link ups. All this about Oxford Street, Ferraris, people stealing from those [American] sweet shops and police vans. Bro wtf is happening."