A Facebook post urging people not to go to Bluewater because of a planned terrorist attack on Black Friday has been confirmed as a hoax by police.

The post, which had over 8,000 shares on social media, claimed that 750 body bags had been delivered to the Greenhithe shopping centre.

News Shopper:

Shoppers were evacuated from Bluewater because of a bomb scare on Saturday (November 21)

The man who uploaded the rumour has since apologised and deleted his status.

The rumour started after shoppers were evacuated from Bluewater after a bomb scare on Saturday (November 21).

A Bluewater spokesman said: “Kent Police have spoken to the main individual responsible for circulating the rumour on social media who has since apologised and taken down the post.

“We would like to reassure visitors that the information was completely false and unfounded. 

“The safety and security of our guests and staff is our highest priority and we work closely with Kent Police on a daily basis to ensure Bluewater stays that way.”

News Shopper:

The original Facebook post

The Facebook post had incorrectly revealed how security were ‘on high alert and had got sniffer dogs in.’

Kent police also confirmed that the information was completely false and unfounded.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, who encouraged people not to ‘allow terrorists to erode our way of life’ yesterday (November 23), condemned the false rumour.

News Shopper: Dartford MP Gareth Johnson

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson

He said: “There is heightened awareness about security issues at the moment, unfortunately some people have been spreading false rumours which doesn’t help.

"I know Bluewater takes its security very seriously and the safety of its guests is always its priority.

"We shouldn't allow extremists to defeat us by staying indoors.

"My family shopped at Bluewater yesterday and it is very much business as usual.”