The Metropolitan police believe a mechanical failure, rather than a gunshot, shattered the window of a taxi carrying the Private Eye editor, Ian Hislop.
On Tuesday morning police were called to an incident in Soho, central London. A black-cab driver told detectives he had come to a standstill in traffic and heard what he believed to be a bullet hitting and shattering his window.
Police say they carried out “urgent” inquiries, securing and examining CCTV footage and did a forensic investigation, such as searching the area for signs of a gun being fired.
The Met said initial indications suggested a mechanical fault was a more likely explanation for why the taxi window shattered. They said detectives could find no evidence supporting the cab driver’s belief that a gun had been fired.
Hislop, who was understood to be shaken after the incident, and the taxi driver have been informed of the emerging conclusions of the police investigation.
The Met in a statement issued on Wednesday said: “The driver of a London black taxi called police at around 10:10hrs (on Tuesday) 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.”
Hislop is the veteran editor of the fortnightly magazine Private Eye, famed for its satirical pieces and investigations. He is also a regular and long-serving panellist on the BBC comedy quiz Have I Got News for You.
The incident occurred on Dean Street in central London, close to Private Eye’s office. Hislop, 64, has been editor of the magazine since 1986.
In a statement, the Private Eye editor thanked “everyone for their concern” after the incident.
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.”
Hislop also sent his thanks to officers and “all who contacted me”.
