London Tube terror attack injures 22
UK police and London ambulance services are responding to the incident at Parsons Green station, in the capital’s southwest. Officials have declared it a terrorist incident, saying it was an “improvised explosive device.”
The National Health Service said 22 people were taken to hospitals after a blast at a London underground station, which police are treating as terrorism, left them injured on Friday.
The Metropolitan Police said none of the injured sustained life-threatening or serious injuries.
TRT World’s Sarah Morice has more from London.
Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer Mark Rowley says the incident was caused by the detonation of an improvised explosive device.
In his statement, Rowley appealed for images and videos.
Statement from AC Mark Rowley following incident at #ParsonsGreen tube station https://t.co/32iXTs1X2w
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 15, 2017
“Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for CT policing, has declared it a terrorist incident,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Sky news, citing unnamed sources, reported that the device did not fully explode.
Personal belongings and a bucket with an item on fire inside it, are seen on the floor of an underground train carriage at Parsons Green station in West London, Britain September 15, 2017. (Reuters)
London’s Metro newspaper initially reported that the blast left some passengers with facial burns.
“It is too early to confirm the cause of the fire, which will be subject to the investigation that is now underway by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command,” London police said in a statement.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told LBC radio that Londoners will see more police on the streets of the British capital.
Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of Britain’s emergency response committee later on Friday
“My thoughts are with those injured at Parsons Green and the emergency services who, once again, are responding swiftly and bravely to a suspected terrorist incident,” May said in a statement.
London’s ambulance service sent its hazardous area response team to the Parsons Green station in response to the blast.
“We have sent multiple resources to the scene including single responders in cars, ambulance crews, incident response officers and our hazardous area response team,” the London Ambulance Service said on Twitter.
“Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries.”
Witnesses report people fleeing the station
Outside the station, a woman was sitting on a pavement with a bandage around her leg while armed police patrolled. A woman was seen being carried off on a stretcher with her legs covered in a foil blanket.
The Sun reported that people fled the scene in panic after the reported blast.
Transport for London said on Twitter that there was no service between Earls Court and Wimbledon on the District Line which runs through Parsons Green.
No service Earls Court to Wimbledon. London Buses, South Western and London Overground accepting tickets via any reasonable route.
— TfL travel (@TfLTravelAlerts) September 15, 2017
