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Police investigating after 'extensive graffiti' appears at central London tube station

Watch: ‘Extensive graffiti’ appears at Oxford Circus station over Christmas

A Tube station was plastered with graffiti over Christmas with slogans referring to the coronavirus crisis and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

People travelling through Oxford Circus in central London discovered the spray-painted murals on Boxing Day.

Dozens of slogans were painted on the station’s Victoria and Bakerloo line platforms, which are now under investigation by the British Transport Police (BTP).

The graffiti includes anarchy symbols, smiley and sad faces and messages saying “Merry Christmas” and “COVID lies”.

Large parts of Oxford Circus were covered with slogans. (PA)
Large parts of Oxford Circus Tube station were covered with slogans. (PA)

One spray-painted message read: “Oi!! Muppets. What if it was your ‘houses’ that burnt down!!! All Power to the people.”

Elsewhere, the letters DDS and TVZ were daubed over walls and tracks.

Read more: Graffiti artist creates innovative neon murals around London

A BTP spokesperson confirmed the “extensive graffiti” had been reported on Saturday morning and said it was being investigated.

They said: “Officers were called to Oxford Circus Tube station this morning after station staff reported extensive graffiti on the northbound Bakerloo line and northbound Victoria line platforms.

British Transport Police said they are investigating. (PA)
British Transport Police said they are investigating. (PA)

“Officers are investigating the incident.”

The vandalism would normally have been impossible because the station would usually be packed with shoppers heading to Boxing Day sales.

However, Tier 4 restrictions in the capital meant shops were closed and the station was deserted.

Read more: People queue outside shops through the night for Boxing Day sales

The Tier 4 measures mean non-essential retail, hairdressers and indoor gyms are closed in London and the surrounding areas.

Oxford Circus, normally a thriving shopping hub, was deserted the day after the measures were announced on Saturday last week.

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