The Oval incident: 'Arrow' fired into playing field - evacuation under way after cricket fans advised to 'take cover'

To round up

• An arrow or crossbow bolt was fired onto the pitch at The Oval while Surrey and Middlesex were playing at around 4.30pm.
• It is thought the projectile came from outside the venue.
• It landed on the cricket square but not too close to any players.
• The umpire found the object immediately and took the players off pitch.
• The crowd was asked to move inside for safety before a controlled evacuation took place.
• No one was injured in the incident.
• The Metropolitan Police is now investigating and said they are not treating it as terrorism-related.

Full statement from Surrey Cricket Club

There are no injuries to report after a metal arrow was fired on to the field of play at the Kia Oval.

The police are now dealing with the matter.

It happened at 4:20pm on the final day of play of the Division One Specsavers County Championship match between Surrey and Middlesex, which has now been abandoned.

The umpires immediately asked the players to leave the field of play before an announcement was made within the stadium requesting fans to move inside.

The public have now been allowed to leave the ground.

Richard Gould comments on the evacuation

Everybody acted supremely calmly, very pleased, and of course nobody was injured and that’s the most important thing.

Asked whether he’s ever seen anything like this at a cricket match, he said “errrrm.... no”.

Surrey chief executive Richard Gould speaks

We’ve had to abandon play because what appears to be a crossbow bolt landed on the pitch at about 20 past four.

It landed on the pitch within the vicinity of the players, the umpire found it immediately, took the players off the pitch so that they were in a position of safety.

We then ensured all the spectators were taken indoors so that they were not at risk in the event another bolt arrived.

Now the incident is being dealt with by the police and everyone is dispersing and the players have gone.

We don’t know if it was done deliberately or if we were just the landing place for it but all of that is to be investigated.

We've spoken to Surrey's chief executive after the incident this afternoon

Picture from Surrey's Jason Roy

The Surrey player wrote:

“Match abandoned due to this.

“Absolutely disgusting how a human can do something like that.

“Fired from outside the ground into the middle of The Oval.”

Updated statement from the Met

Police were made aware at 16:35hrs on Thursday, 31 August of reports that an arrow or crossbow bolt had been loosed into the Oval Cricket Ground.

Officers, including firearms officers, are on scene.

There are no reported injuries.

There has been a controlled evacuation of the ground and the match has been suspended.

It is believed that the object came from outside of the ground.

At this stage, the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.

Officers from Lambeth are investigating.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone who has information concerning this incident should call officers from Lambeth by dialling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Incident NOT being treated as terrorism-related

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed the incident is NOT being treated as a terror-related incident.

Game abandoned and ends as draw

“Understandably, after the earlier suspension of play, the game at the Oval has been abandoned with the game ending as a draw.”

This statement was released by Middlesex Cricket Club.

Play totally abandoned for the day, it is reported

We believe that the Surrey v Middlesex game has been totally abandoned and will not begin again today.

Video of Surrey committee member Colin Hunt speaking

Full story

We’ve done a breakout story on the full story so far.

Read it here.

'Just ludicrous'

“It’s just ludicrous, I don’t know what the motive was, it’s strange,” Mr Hunt continued.

And what would he say to the person that fired the arrow?

“Why? Why? What’s the motive? What were you trying to achieve? It’s senseless.”

Eyewitness report

Our content editor Oliver Florence spoke to Colin Hunt, eyewitness and Surrey committee member.

He described what he saw:

“I was sitting in the members’ pavilion, the lower side of it, and I looked across and I saw a bolt hitting the second wicket, the spare wicket, from the far end of the OCS stand. I don’t know if it was from the ground or the outside.”

He also said it could have been a crossbow bolt or an arrow, a steel-tipped one.

Mr Hunt added that the projectile did not come close to hitting any of the players.

“The linesman from the bowler’s end came across to where the arrow was... and he picked the arrow up.”

Police

To confirm, the Metropolitan Police have still not said whether it was in fact an arrow or a crossbow bolt which came from outside the ground.

They were made aware of an incident at 4.35pm and are now on scene.

People sheltering in the bar area...

'Crowd trouble'

It seems the play stoppage was initially reported as “crowd trouble”.

Police helicopter circling

We’re getting reports that the police helicopter is now circling The Oval.

Update expected from County Championship

More photos from The Oval this afternoon

Cup of tea

Our content editor Oliver Florence settled down with a cup of tea after everyone was told to go inside.

However a controlled evacuation is now taking place. We’ll continue to bring you any updates he gives us.

Metropolitan Police statement

Police were made aware at 16:35hrs on Thursday, 31 August of reports that an arrow or crossbow bolt had been loosed into the Oval Cricket ground.

Officers are on scene.

The ground is in the process of a controlled evacuation.

There are no reported injuries.

At this early stage it is believed that the object came from outside of the ground.

There have been no arrests.

We retain an open mind as to motive. Enquiries continue.

Anyone who has information concerning this incident should call officers from Lambeth by dialling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

When play stopped....

Shortly before 4.30pm, when play stopped because of the arrow falling on the square, Middlesex were 214-7.

'Everyone safe'

Duncan Chapman, who’s present at The Oval, has told us:

“Everyone safe. Police and Surrey officials quick to advise people to move inside. No panic. Most, including me, now drifting away from ground.”

Freelance cricket broadcaster's account

Daniel Norcross said:

“Extraordinary scenes at The Oval where play has been suspended because an as yet I identified object has fallen from the sky onto the square.

“The umpires were shown it by a couple of fielders and most of the players beat a fairly hasty retreat.

“Apparently it was an arrow. I would imagine that’s the last cricket we’ll see today.”

Armed police at the scene

Announcement asked everyone to go indoors

“very serious incident”.

“A projectile has been fired into the field of play... The advice from our chief executive and from security and the police is that everybody should go indoors.”

Crossbow bolt or arrow

There is some debate over whether it was a crossbow bolt or arrow that fell on the cricket square.

Surrey player Stuart Meaker tweets

“Well...we have just officially gone off the field because a metal tipped arrow just landed on the pitch!!”

Video of announcement at The Oval warning of incident