Witnesses describe smell of smoke on train car, panic as passengers flee
A fire on a London subway train was being treated as a terrorist incident, U.K. police said Friday, as witnesses described an explosion followed by a burst of flames and scenes of panic during the morning rush.
Emergency services said 18 people are being treated for injuries at London hospitals following the incident at Parsons Green station in West London, but none are in a serious or life-threatening condition. A photo posted on social media showed personal belongings and a bucket with an item on fire inside on the floor of a train carriage.
Emergency services swarmed the area, which was taped off behind a large cordon. Police advised people to stay away.
Chris Wildish, a passenger on the train, told Sky News that he saw flames coming out of what appeared to be a white bucket wrapped in a foil bag. He said he could see what appeared to be wires coming out of the bucket, and detected “a very strong smell of chemicals.”
Shuchen Warner, a teacher who was on her way to work, said she was in the subway car when “suddenly I hear a big bang, I turned left, and I saw a flame surge” just before the doors of the train opened.
Witnesses described chaos as passengers rushed to flee across a crowded platform, pushing toward exit stairs. People jumped over other to escape and there were people injured and screaming, they said.
Ben Lee said as his train stopped at the station a wave of people started…