Taxi carrying Private Eye editor Ian Hislop faced mechanical fault and not gunshot, police say

Police say a mechanical fault has to blame after they investigated what was initially thought to be a gunshot that hit the back window of a taxi carrying the Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You panellist Ian Hislop.

As The Guardian reports, a black cab driver told Scotland Yard detectives he had come to a stop in traffic in London’s Soho just after 10am yesterday (October 1) when he heard what he believed to be a bullet hitting and damaging the cab’s window.

The incident is said to have occurred on Dean Street, close to the Private Eye office.

Despite initial fears that Hislop may have been targeted, police say their investigations reveal that a mechanical failure, rather than a gunshot, shattered the window of the taxi.

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.”

The driver and Hislop are both believed to have escaped without injury.

Hislop has edited the weekly magazine – known for shining a light on global injustices and scandal – since 1986. He has also been a team captain on the BBC’s weekly news quiz Have I Got News For You since 1990.

In a statement, Private Eye said: “Ian Hislop wishes to thank everyone for their concern which is greatly appreciated. He can confirm that there was an incident in a taxi yesterday in which a rear window was 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.”

He added: “My thanks to them and again to all who contacted me.”