Parsons Green Tube explosion: Sun man caught up in blast describes panic as hundreds of commuters fled scene
TERRIFIED commuters ran from Parsons Green this morning after an explosion tore through a tube train in a "fireball".
Sun reporter Harry Cole reported seeing "absolute chaos" as more than 100 commuters flooded from Parsons Green during rush hour after the terror attack at around 8.20am.
What we know so far:
- A homemade bucket bomb connected to a timer sent a "fireball" hurtling through an eastbound District Line Tube at Parsons Green at around 8.20am
- The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are treating the horror as a terror attack and are hunting the suspect behind the blast
- 22 people have been taken to four hospitals across London including a young boy believed to have suffered serious burns to his legs
- Train services through the area have been halted and a wide cordon put in place after terrified commuters were injured in a "stampede"
- Theresa May will chair an emergency meeting of Cobra today as she said her thoughts are with the victims, while US President Donald Trump has hinted that the attacker may have been known to security services
- Initial reports falsely suggested a knifeman was on the loose and a second bomb was being detonated
He said: "Everyone came running out the station after reports of an explosion on the platform.
"You could see people were visibly shaken and hundreds were flooding out as armed police ran towards the station.
"There's currently a police helicopter hovering overhead and a huge emergency services presence.
"The cordon is getting bigger and bigger now.
"More than 100 people were easily running from the station after the reports came in as it was peak time.
"They are being taken to the actual green and you can see people are in tears and hugging each other.
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"It's absolute chaos."
He said one woman was taken away in an ambulance looking "badly burnt" on her face and others are being led from the station covered in blankets.
The cordon is being extended as more police arrive at the scene to assess the damage.
The blast appears to have come from the contents of a Lidl bag left by the tube carriage door.
TERROR ATTACK LATEST Get live updates on the Parsons Green Tube station explosion and commuter chaos
The Met Police said: "We are aware of an incident at #ParsonsGreen tube station. Officers are in attendance. More info ASAP".
A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: "We were called at 8.21am and we have information there was a fire on a train eastbound at the platform at Parsons Green. We have got two fire engines there."
London Ambulance Service has also confirmed it is on the scene.
More on the Parsons Green terror attack
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