London’s transport body shut down part of an underground train line during the Friday morning rush hour because of what it says is a “security situation” at Parsons Green Tube station, in the capital’s southwest.
London’s Metropolitan Police said on Twitter: “We are aware of an incident at Parsons Green tube station. Officers are in attendance.”
Train services between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon on the District Line have been suspended, Transport for London said. Customers are advised to take alternative routes.
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.”
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.
The Met Police said it was “aware of reports on social media” about Parsons Green, adding: “We will release facts when we can — our info must be accurate.”
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.”
Richard Aylmer-Hall, 52, a media technology consultant, described “panic” on the train in an interview with PA .
“There was panic, lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of screaming,” he said.
“There was a woman on the platform who said she had seen a bag, a flash and a bang, so obviously something had gone off,” he said. “I saw two women being treated by ambulance crews.”
Large numbers of emergency responders, including armed police officers, could be seen near Parsons Green station.
The security cordon around the station, which is above ground, has been extended and emergency vehicles could be seen continuing to arrive over an hour after the incident.
Parsons Green is an affluent, mainly residential area popular with young families in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, not far from Chelsea.
Developing story – more to come
