LONDON (AP) — Shoppers are mobbing Apple’s flagship store in London in hopes of getting the gadget of the moment — the iPad.

Long lines snaked down Regent Street in the British capital as buyers sought the hand-held computer.

First in line was 17-year-old Jake Lee, who ran into the store as it opened. Comedian Stephen Fry also had to have one — and compared the excitement to the launch of a Lady GaGa album in a U.S. record store.

Apple Inc. says it is launching the iPad in nine countries on Friday — Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Britain.

The iPad was first launched in the United States in January.