Parsons Green explosion is investigated by London police, emergency services are present at tube station
An explosion on a London tube's Parsons Green Station is being investigated by the police. The tube services
have been restricted around the area. The station has been closed. and the metropolitan police, London Ambulance services are at the scene. The station is in a posh area, very close to Wimbeldon, an important area in London. All the emergency services in the area are cautiously referring to the event at Parsons Green Station as an 'incident'. An unverified picture circulating on social media showed a white bucket in a supermarket freezer bag with what appeared to be wires coming out of the top on the floor of one train carriage. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, reported Reuters quoting the terror group's Amaq news agency.
For those seeking any help, the London's traffic police released the following number.
Here are the live updates of London's Parsons Green Underground station incident:
Britain raises threat level after London bomb, news agency AFP said quoting Prime Minister Theresa May's office.
According to Reuters, ISIS claimed responsibility for the blast that injured 22 people, the terror group's Amaq news agency said.
Donald Trump says he will call British Prime Minister Theresa May after London attack.
London Mayor says police presence to increase after metro explosionLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan said Londoners will see more police on the streets of the British capital after an explosion at a metro station, which officers said was a "terrorist incident."
"They will see over the course of today and the next few days an enhanced police presence, not simply on the public transport network but also across London," Khan told LBC Radio.
Here is what we know so far about the train explosion that police is calling a terror attack:
- Over 22 people injured, some suffering severe burns.
- Police counter-terror chief Mark Rowley said explosion caused by an "improvised explosive device."
- A Twitter user posted pictures of smouldering white bucket in the carriage described a "fireball" which "flew down (the) carriage."
- Prime Minister Theresa May was preparing to chair an emergency cabinet meeting.
- There were no immediate claims of responsibility.
- Witnesses reported several passengers on the train had been "badly burned" by the blast.
- One journalist at the scene reported some victims' "hair coming off."
- This is the fifth attack in six months in Britain.
Manhunt underway after explosion kills 22
London police said on Friday they were making urgent inquiries to track down who was responsible for an explosion at a metro station, which officers are treating as a "terrorist incident."
"Counter Terrorism detectives are making fast-time inquiries to establish who was responsible for the incident at Parsons Green tube station," London's Metropolitan police tweeted on Friday.
Theresa May's former chief advisor, Nick Timothy, responds to Trump's tweet. "True or not - and I'm sure he doesn't know - this is so unhelpful from leader of our ally and intelligence partner," Mr Timothy wrote.
The Guy's and St Thomas' have activated a major incident plan after the explosion in London.For more details follow this Twitter handle.
Device had a timer: ReportThe device that detonated on the Tube at Parsons Green had a timer, BBC reported.
JUST IN: 22 people injured in the London underground terror attack: health service
Eighteen were taken by ambulance and the other four made their own way to hospital, the NHS said, adding that the injured have been taken to four London clinics.
Theresa May rushes for meeting of Britain's emergency response committee, her office said.
Labour Party's Jeremy Corbyn tweeted thanks to police, ambulance staff and firefighters who are responding to the attack. "Thoughts with those injured in Parsons Green terrorist incident," he wrote.
Amid terror attack, locals are offering cups of tea, tweeted Parsons Green.
British police said a bomb was used during the explosion at London metro station. "We now assess that this was a detonation of an improvised explosive device," Britain's top counter-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said on Friday.
London's police is being supported by Britain's MI5 intelligence service, he said.
"Loser Terrorist": Trump On Parsons Green ExplosionDonald Trump responds to the attack, calls terrorist "loser". He urged the Scotland Yard to be proactive. "These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!" Trump tweeted.
In London Tube Attack, Passengers Burnt, Some Covered With BloodWitnesses reported seeing passengers with facial burns and hair coming off at Parsons Green station and seeing a fire or hearing an explosion on the train.
Passengers described chaotic scenes at the station in a leafy and normally quiet part of west London.
"There was panic, lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of screaming," Richard Aylmer-Hall, 52, a media technology consultant, told the Press Association.
"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, adding that "some people got pushed over and trampled on.
"I saw two women being treated by ambulance crews," he said.
Read whole story here 18 patients taken to hospitals: Ambulance Services
London Ambulance has informed: "We have taken 18 patients to a number of London hospitals."
Natasha Wells, Assistant Director at the emergency service added, "None are thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition"
Read the full statement:
London Mayor condemns terror attack at Parsons Green Station
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned "the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life."
He added: "I will be attending the emergency COBRA meeting in Whitehall this afternoon with the Prime Minister." A COBRA meeting involves committee across departments coming together to respond to national emergencies. It stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson appeals for calmBritish Foreign Secretary and former London mayor Boris Johnson appealed for calm.
"I'm afraid my information is limited and it really is important not to speculate at the moment," he told Sky News.
"Obviously, everybody should keep calm and go about their lives in a normal way, as normal as they possibly can," he said.
Briitsh Prime Minister tweeted in support for the victims. "My thoughts are with those injured at Parsons Green and emergency services who are responding bravely to this terrorist incident, " said PM Theresa May.
An unafraid London fights back
Even though panic ensued among Londoner in the wake of 'terrorist incident' at Parsons green tube station, some resolute citizens tweeted messages saying they will not be defeated and will fight Back.
Netizens posted on Twitter saying: "The terrorists will never defeat us. Stay strong." Another said: "They will not break us, only bring us closer together." with an image of the London tube's logo with the word underground replaced with "We are not afraid."
Many others tweeted in solidarity. Petros Petrikkos said "Do not give in to fear, London stands united."
Many expressed anger at the situation as well.
After the incident at Parsons Green station, "Fulham Road is closed between Munster road & North End Road. Parsons Green Lane closed at New Kings Road," informed the police in a tweet.
The London police appeals people for images of the Parsons Green incident
BREAKING NEWS: Incident at Parsons Green incident declared a terrorist incident. The police said in a tweet: "Counter Terrorism Command are investigating" the incident.
Passengers badly burned in London's train incident, say reports
Passengers were seen "badly burned" following a possible explosion on a London Underground train, eyewitnesses said. The Parsons Green station remains closed. An entire section of the District Line where it is located is shut too and police urged people to stay away from the area.
So far, Britain has suffered four attacks blamed on terrorists so far this year which killed 36 people. In 2005, 52 people were killed when four British Islamists carried out suicide bomb attacks on three London underground trains and a bus.
London mayor Sadiq Khan assured people that he is in contact with the emergency services about the incident at Parsons Green.
Eye witness account: Flames raced along train at the station
Flames engulfed one carriage and raced along a train on a west London route to Parsons Green, forcing passengers to trample others as they rushed for an exit, an eyewitness told Reuters.
The man said people were trampled on when they fled the train after hearing a whoosh and seeing flames race towards them. He said he did not hear a bang after police rushed to an incident at the station at Parsons Green.
"I just heard a kind of whoosh. I looked up and saw the whole carriage engulfed in flames making its way towards me," he told Reuters, adding that the train was packed with people.
The theory behind 'Fireball' that sparked panic
Images from the train showed a burning white bucket stashed in a Lidl carrier bag, which is believed to have exploded and sent a "fireball" down the carriage. On social media, people shared that there was "mass screaming, shouting, stampeded and running".
Reporters at the scene were quoted as seeing people with facial burns, adding that they were 'really badly burned' and 'their hair was coming off'. The back of the train was filled with smoke.
6 fire engines, 2 fire rescue unit and around 50 firefighters at Parsons Green Tube station: London Fire Services"Six fire engines, two fire rescue unit and around 50 firefighters and specialist officers are currently attending an incident at Parsons Green Tube station. Fire crews from Fulham, Wandsworth, Chelsea, Hammersmith and other surrounding fire stations are in attendance," said the spokesperson of London fire services.
The Metropolitan Police Service assured the people of London that: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police are in attendance along with the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
They have advised the people "to avoid the area."
This is what we know about the explosion at a tube station in LondonLondon Fire department, Metropolitan police and the London transport services are keeping Londoners aware of the latest situation through their official twitter accounts.
The travel services, have said: "Services are now suspended btn Edgware Rd & Wimbledon while police respond to an incident. Ticket accepted on Buses, South Western & Overground"
They have advised the travellers to replan journeys between Wimbledon and Earl's Court.
The London fire brigade tweeted, "We have a number of resources and specialists officers in attendance at the incident at Parsons Green tube station."
Police said they were aware of reports on social media and would release facts regarding the incident once they could be sure of their accuracy.
A picture has been shared by several users on Twitter that shows a burning white bucket near the exit of a train. According to reports, passengers saw a fireball and ran in panic.
London's Ambulance Service releases statement:"We were called at 8:20am to reports of an incident at Parsons Green underground station. We have sent multiple resources to the scene including single responders in cars, ambulance crews, incident response officers and our hazardous area response team, with the first of our medics arriving in under five minutes. Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries. More information will follow when we have it." said Natasha Wills, Assistant Director of Operations at London Ambulance Service.
