Terrified commuters 'ran for their lives' after an explosion on a London Underground train this morning. There was a stampede as people fled in panic when a 'fireball flew down the carriage', leaving several passengers with serious facial burns on the packed rush hour train in Parsons Green, west London. One witness told the BBC there was a 'bang' and then a 'wall of flames', which engulfed the carriage, with pictures showing a burning plastic bucket stashed in a Lidl carrier bag.
The doors opened on the District Line train and the commuters, many of them with scorched faces and hair, ran off screaming. A photograph of the flaming white bucket taken just after it exploded 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. There were reports of a man at the station with a knife in the aftermath of the explosion. Scotland Yard said they believe this is unrelated to the Tube incident but are investigating and urging people to avoid the area. A journalist at the scene said a police officer told her there was a second unexploded device being tackled by the bomb squad.
A photograph of the flaming white bucket taken just after it exploded 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.
There were reports of a man at the station with a knife in the aftermath of the explosion. Scotland Yard said they believe this is unrelated to the Tube incident but are investigating and urging people to avoid the area.
A journalist at the scene said a police officer told her there was a second unexploded device being tackled by the bomb squad.
Armed Police, paramedics and firefighters were all said to be at the west London station within five minutes of the explosion at 8.20am today.
Horrified witnesses on social media claim there is a stampede as people are 'screaming and running off trains'.
Another witness, Sham, said he saw a man with blood all over his face. 'There were loads of people crying and shaking,' he told 5 live.
'There were a lot of people limping and covered in blood. One guy I saw, his face was covered in blood - I've never seen anything like it.'
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A Twitter user called Rigs tweeted: 'Explosion on Parsons Green district line train. Fireball flew down carriage and we just jumped out open door.'
Emma Stevie tweeted: 'I'm safe - just had to run for my life at #ParsonsGreen station - huge stamped, lots injured. Not sure why - fire/explosion mentioned.'
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| 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 |
Ben Lee wrote: 'Just been evacuated at #parsonsgreen - panic from rearmost carriage - pax saw smoke but NO injuries'
Another social media user said: 'what's happening at Parsons Green, panic on the platform reports of fire or explosion in a bag. No announcements.'
Councillor Daniel Holden tweeted: 'Horror on District Line at Parsons Green, due to EXPLOSION/ Fire on train. People struggling to get out of station.'
Steven Slayford posted: 'Huge police presence at Parsons Green. Was told by a police officer to 'get somewhere safe as quickly as I can'.
As Facebook and Twitter was swamped with claims the incident was terror attack, Scotland Yard tweeted at 8.51am: 'We are aware of reports on social media RE #ParsonsGreen. We will release facts when we can - our info must be accurate'.
Transport for London said Tube services were suspended between Edgware Road and Wimbledon
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