At least 22 people were injured following an explosion on a tube train sends terrified commuters to ran for their lives on Friday morning. People fled in panic and jumped out through the doors after a 'fireball flew down the carriage', leaving several passengers with serious facial burns on the packed rush hour train in Parsons Green, west London.
According to a witness, there was a 'bang' and then a 'wall of flames', which spread through the packed carriage. The doors opened at Parsons Green and the commuters, many of them with scorched faces and hair, ran off screaming. Police, paramedics and firefighters were all at the station within five minutes of the explosion.
Pictures show a burning plastic bucket stashed in a carrier bag, which is said to have exploded and sent a fireball down the carriage. A photograph of the flaming white bucket taken just after it exploded around 8.20 am shows a number of wires protruding out of the top and on to the train carriage floor - but police have not yet confirmed if it was a bomb and are still investigating it. Witnesses claim there was a stampede as people are 'screaming and running'. Police said they treated the explosion as a terrorist attack.
It added: "It is too early to confirm cause of fire - now subject to the investigation that is underway". A witness said people were left with cuts and grazes from trying to flee the scene. There was lots of panic. Natasha Wills, assistant director of operations at London Ambulance Service said: "Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries".
British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "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 at west London tube station." May said she would chair a meeting of the National Security Committee later in the day.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said: "Our city utterly condemns the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life. As London has proved again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism." He also urged all Londoners to "remain calm and vigilant" and to refer to the Transport for London website for travel advice.
