Shirtless man ‘slashed himself with a knife following watch and phone street robbery as BBC reporter was live on-air in Oxford Street’

• The victim of robbery was targeted outside Royal Gifts Gallery on Oxford Street

A shirtless man slashed himself with a knife following a violent street robbery on Oxford Street, according to a BBC reporter who was live on air at the time.

The victim of theft was targeted outside the Royal Gifts Gallery on Tuesday, with shop staff coming to his aid as thieves tried to steal his watch and phone. 

BBC reporter Anna O’Neill said on Twitter that one of the thieves began slashing himself with a large knife until his accomplice was released.

‘While I was live on air, a violent street robbery happened outside one of the gift shops! Poor Phil, visiting the UK on business, was attacked for his watch,’ she wrote.

‘He was wrestled […] by two men who tried to take his watch and phone.

A shirtless man slashed himself with a knife following a violent street robbery on Oxford Street in London (pictured), according to a BBC reporter who was live on air at the time (File image) 

‘The men in the gift shop came out and pulled the robbers off Phil. They managed to apprehend one of the men who was wearing a grey suit.’ 

She added: ‘But his partner came back with a large knife and started slashing himself until they let his partner go, which they did.

‘We’ve heard police cars, vans and an ambulance heading towards Marble Arch.

‘The second man was naked from the waist up and covered in blood, holding a large knife.’ 

Ms O’Neill was speaking to Eddie Nestor on BBC Radio London as the drama unfolded.

The victim, named only as Phil, later spoke to the broadcaster.

He said: ‘They tackled me and they were trying to get my watch off me and get my phone.

‘And I was able to hold on to the small guy who was trying to take my watch and I wouldn’t let him go.

‘These guys were around him and pulling them off, and then he got up and he ran without getting my watch.

‘And they retained the other fellow but the other guy came back, the small fellow who tackled me, and he was starting to cut himself with a knife.’

The man who slashed himself is believed to have run off to Marble Arch Tube station, although this has not yet been confirmed by police.

A spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 10.51am on Tuesday, September 5, to reports of a man with a knife in Oxford Street.

‘It was reported that he was harming himself and threatening to harm others.

‘Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

‘A man was detained nearby, inside Marble Arch Underground station. 

‘No other injuries were reported.’  

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