Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You star Ian Hislop has ‘thanked everyone for their concern’ following reports his taxi had been tageted by a gunman.
It was initially thought a London black cab had been hit by a bullet while transporting Hislop through Soho at around 10am on Tuesday.
But the Metropolitan Police have since confirmed there is ‘no evidence of a firearms discharge at this time’.
They are still looking into what happened, but believe that the rear window may have shattered due to a mechanical fault.
Both Hislop and the taxi driver were unharmed.
A statement said Hislop ‘wishes to thank everyone for their concern which is greatly appreciated’.
It continued: ‘He can confirm that there was an incident in a taxi yesterday in which a rear window shattered, and the police are investigating.
‘They were initially looking into the possibility of a shot having been fired but have now indicated that there may be another more innocent explanation for what happened.’
The Have I Got News For You star also sent his thanks to officers and ‘all who contacted me’.
The incident took place near a junction on Oxford Street, close to where Private Eye’s offices are located.
A local worker, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: ‘I just saw the taxi in the street – it was parked just up there.
‘My colleague spotted it – all of the window at the back was smashed in, just a little black cab.
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‘I think I saw it at about 10.30am – with all the police alongside.’
Hislop has been the editor of the satirical magazine since 1986, and is also famed for his long-running stint on TV panel show Have I Got News For You alongside Paul Merton.
During his tenure as editor of Private Eye he has gained notoriety as one of the most sued men in British legal history.
A police spokesperson said: ‘The driver of a London black taxi called police at around 10:10hrs and reported that he was stationary in traffic in Dean Street when a shot was fired towards his vehicle, striking the window and damaging it.
‘There were no reported injuries.
‘An investigation was launched and police seized the vehicle.
‘Urgent CCTV and forensic examinations have been conducted. While enquiries are ongoing, police have found no evidence of a firearms discharge at this time. Initial indications suggest a mechanical fault might have caused the window to shatter. We await further tests.
‘Police have informed the driver and passenger.’
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