Multiple casualties have been reported during a blast that ripped through a London Underground train this morning.
British Transport Police said its officers have arrived at the scene and started investigating the reported explosion at the Parsons Green metro station in southwest London, which left several people “badly burned.”
Eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of commuters were running from the platform in a state of panic.
BBC London presenter Riz Lateef, who was at Parsons Green on her way in to work said: “There was panic as people rushed from the train, hearing what appeared to be an explosion.
“People were left with cuts and grazes from trying to flee the scene. There was lots of panic.”
Paramedics rushed to the scene and started treating the wounded as many of them have suffered facial burns.
Natasha Wills, assistant director of operations at London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8:20 a.m. to reports of an incident at Parsons Green underground station.
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“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.”
Transport for London confirmed that Parsons Green station has been closed and there was no service between Earls Court and Wimbledon on the District Line which runs through Parsons Green.
One witness reported seeing “a flash and a bang” in a Lidl bag holding the container, which is said to have had wires coming from it, on the packed rush-hour carriage.
British Foreign Secretary and former London mayor Boris Johnson appealed for calm. He told Sky News: “I’m afraid my information is limited and it really is important not to speculate at the moment.”
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are treating the incident as an act of terrorism.
