Many injured by explosion on London Tube

An explosion on a London Tube train that sparked panic among passengers is being treated as a terrorist incident, Scotland Yard has said.

Passengers, including children, fled the District Line train after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)

detonated at Parsons Green Station.

Eyewitnesses described a “fireball” and a “wall of flame” through the packed London Underground train after the blast, which happened at around 8.20am on Friday, as one commuter described how his hair was left singed by the blast. 

In a statement, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the blast was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

An investigation is now underway led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, he said, with hundreds of detectives carrying out enquiries including examining CCTV, forensic work and speaking to eyewitnesses.

 London Ambulance Service said 18 people were taken to hospital after the explosion and ACC Rowley said he understood most of those to be “flash burns”.

Witnesses reported seeing some people with facial burns and others with injuries caused by the stampede in the wake of the incident.

Reports via social media shared pictures of what was believed to be the device.

Some pictures showed what looked like a white container with flames flickering inside, while other people said they had seen a bag with wires on the train.