Police Declare 'Terrorist Incident' at London Underground Station

Accra, Sept. 15 - (dpa/GNA) - The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that they are investigating a "terrorist incident" at the Parsons Green underground station in west London.

"The Met's Counter Terrorism Command is investigating after the incident at #Parsons Green tube station is declared a terrorist incident," police wrote on Twitter.

Police said, however, that it was "too early to confirm the cause of the fire."

The station has been cordoned off and train services have been suspended after the incident, which happened during rush hour. Police, ambulance and fire services rushed to the scene.

London Ambulance Service said they were called in at 8:20 am (0720 GMT). "We have sent multiple resources to the scene including single responders in cars, ambulance crews, incident response officers and our hazardous area response team," it said in a statement.

One passenger, who gave his name only as Lucas, told BBC 5 Live: "I heard a really loud explosion, when I looked back there appeared to be a bag but I don't if it's associated with the explosion.

"I saw people with minor injuries, burnings to the face, arms, legs, multiple casualties in that way," he said. "People were helping each other."

London's Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had received an emergency call this morning.

"Police were called at approx. 8:20am to #Parsons Green following reports of an incident on a tube train," they wrote on Twitter.

"We would advise people to avoid the area," they added.

"Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries," it continued, saying that more information would follow when they had it.

London Fire Brigade said that six fire engines, two fire rescue units and around 50 firefighters and specialist officers were in attendance at Parsons Green.

Transport for London said that services on the District line, which runs through the station, had been suspended and advised passengers to "replan their journeys."

The BBC had reported that there had been an "explosion" on a Tube train.

GNA