London’s Metropolitan Police are investigating a Tube incident which has shut down part of a busy London Underground line as terrorism on Friday, September 15, 2017.
It’s not yet clear what caused the security alert, which occurred at about 8:20 a.m. local time (3:20 a.m. ET) at the height of rush hour on a busy commuter line into central London.
But witnesses told CNN they heard announcements from officials that “some kind of explosion” had occurred on a train at Parsons Green Tube station.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for counterterroism policing, has declared it a terrorist incident, the Met Police said in a statement.
Parsons Green station is closed, a large security cordon has been put in place and large numbers of emergency responders are at the scene.
London’s Metropolitan Police earlier tweeted: “We are aware of an incident at Parsons Green tube station. Officers are in attendance.”
We are aware of an incident at #ParsonsGreen tube station. Officers are in attendance. More info ASAP
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 15, 2017
London Ambulance Service said a number of responders, including its hazardous area response team, were at the scene alongside the police.
Natasha Wills, the ambulance service’s assistant director of operations, said: “Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries. More information will follow when we have it.”
Software developer Sylvain Pennec told the UK’s Press Association news agency he heard a “boom and when I looked there were flames all around.”
“People started to run but we were lucky to be stopping at Parsons Green as the door started to open.”
Read more at CNN.
