Hoax bomber inside Regent Street shop brings chaos to West End

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12 April 2012

Central London was brought to a standstill in the early hours of today after a man barricaded himself inside a shop and threatened to blow it up.

A large swathe of the West End was closed off after the father-of-two broke into the Accessorize store in Regent Street near Oxford Circus Tube station at around 12.20am claiming he had a bomb.

Police were involved in a five-hour stand-off as the highly agitated man said he had a home-made explosive device in a Smarties' sweets tube. He identified himself as Mick Bevis, 46, from New Cross, and told the Standard he had "had enough" of life.

Speaking from inside the clothing and jewellery store as the siege continued, he said: "I can't take any more. The door was open and I thought sod it, I will go in'. No one else will get hurt."

Dozens of fire crews and ambulances attended the secene, casuing major traffic congestion.

Pop star Pixie Lott was caught up in the drama as police closed the Movida nightclub in Argyll Street where she was celebrating her 20th birthday with friends including singer Jamelia.

Met Police negotiators were eventually able to persuade Mr Bevis to leave the building at about 5.15am. Witnesses described seeing a man walking out of the shop with his arms outstretched who was then made to strip naked in the street before being arrested by armed police.

Today the would-be bomber's grandmother, Peggy Bevis, said he had drug abuse and mental health problems. She also said his real name is Malcolm Tripp, but he was known as Mick.

Mrs Bevis, 82, told the Standard: "The police came round this morning to talk to me and then I saw Mick on TV being led out. He is not right in the head. He is a shoplifter and takes Methadone."

Oxford Circus underground station was closed and a cordon remained in place until around 8.30am.

No explosive devices were found.

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