Abandoned Audi that sparked Regent Street bomb panic had been left with charging cable plugged in for a week - as traffic wardens continue to ticket it even after it was blown up

By FRANKIE ELLIOTT

Published: 19:52 AEDT, 10 January 2025 | Updated: 20:40 AEDT, 10 January 2025

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An abandoned Audi that was destroyed by police during a Regent Street bomb scare is still getting tickets because it still hasn't been recovered or claimed.

Frightened shoppers were seen fleeing the iconic London shopping street on Wednesday after suspicions had been raised about the vehicle, located outside an upmarket Italian restaurant.

Mayfair workers had noticed the black Audi A1 Sportback S Line had been left for a week with a charging cable plugged into its dashboard and several £130 parking tickets.

The Metropolitan Police was notified about the 'suspicious vehicle' and officers swarmed the area at around 1pm and ordered people to evacuate 'immediately'.

The nearby roads and offices were then sealed off whilst a bomb disposal robot arrived to conduct a number of controlled explosions near the £15,000 vehicle as a 'precautionary measure'.

Images on Thursday showed the luxury motor's interior covered in police tape, glass and empty boxes, with its heavily-tinted windows and boot destroyed in the blast.

The wrecked car has not been moved since the explosion, meaning traffic wardens are continuing to slap further parking tickets on it's dashboard.

Workers say the Audi had been parked on the street 'for a long time', but DVLA records show the motor is taxed until next January and its MOT expires in October.

The black Audi A1 Sportback S Line had been left for a week with a charging cable plugged into its dashboard and several £130 parking tickets

Frightened shoppers were seen fleeing the iconic shopping street on Wednesday after suspicions had been raised about the vehicle 

Mayfair workers notified the Metropolitan Police about the 'suspicious vehicle' and officers swarmed the area at around 1pm and ordered people to evacuate 'immediately 

Telecoms worker Anthony Gardener-Smith, 23, told the Standard: 'We've been on site for the whole week and the car was there on Monday. It definitely raised suspicions because it's not even parked in a bay, half of it is on yellow lines.

'The police decided to blow it up because it had a phone charger or power bank plugged in to the centre console.

'Everyone was told to evacuate and people started running because they thought it was a bomb. Then they heard the bangs, which made it worse.'

The scenes of panic seen along one of the world's most famous shopping districts on Wednesday were captured on video and posted on social media.

Hundreds of people were seen sprinting down the streets to flee the scene, whilst numerous alarms rung out in the background.

Half a dozen streets between Maddox Street and Savile Row had to close and onlookers were told to stand behind a police cordon that had been established near the Royal Academy.

One eyewitness said: 'They evacuated the whole street and are carrying out a controlled explosion.

'There was just a loud bang and the police are moving everyone further away.'

Half a dozen streets between Maddox Street and Savile Row had to close because of Wednesday's bomb threat 

Buildings along Regent Street in central London were being evacuated on Wednesday 

The nearby roads and offices were then sealed off whilst a bomb disposal robot arrived to conduct a number of controlled explosions near the £15,000 vehicle 

Another Regent Street worker said: 'We heard a lot of sirens and a bomb squad vehicle arrived.'  

The iconic shopping street is particularly busy this month as people flood to the area for the January sales.

But a video posted online showed the streets completely deserted following Wednesday evacuation, with the caption: 'I'm still in the office on Regent Street. Very eerie. Heard at least one explosion.' 

The Met was unable to say how long the suspicious car had been parked in the West End.

'This incident has now been fully stood down,' a spokesman said. 'The vehicle was found to be non-suspicious.'

Westminster City Council also declined to comment on why the vehicle is still being given tickets.

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group