A police manhunt is underway after a suspected CS gas attack on a London Underground train left commuters struggling for breath.
Reports that gas had been released “on board a train carriage at Oxford Circus station” on the morning of Saturday, July 20th were received at 9:13 a.m., according to an official statement from the British Transport Police (BTP).
The police force have released CCTV images (below) of people they believe “may have information that could help their investigation” in a public appeal for information.
Know them? Gas was released on a tube carriage at Oxford Circus this morning. People were treated at the scene for coughing etc. No further health concerns.
Symptoms suggest the gas was CS gas. Text us on 61016 quoting ref 171 of 20/07/19.
More info: https://t.co/AExTbznYdr pic.twitter.com/c9olq5JCyl
— BTP London (@BTPLondon) July 20, 2019
The BTP reported that “A number of people were treated at the scene by paramedics for coughing and lack of breath”, and that the gas has been tentatively identified as CS — commonly used by law enforcement as a riot control agent — based on their symptoms.
The force added, however, that there are at present “no further concerns for their health”.
While victims told the BBC that the incident was “frightening”, with passengers in the carriage where the gas was released “trying to frantically get [out]”, there are at present no statements indicating that the attack was terror-related.
“Enquiries have shown the gas was used during a fight between a group on board the train,” the BTP statement reads.
Officers have urged anyone “who witnessed the incident, or who knows the identity of the men [in the released images]” to contact them by text on 61016, or by calling them directly on 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference 171 of 20/07/19.
British Transport Police
British Transport Police
British Transport Police
British Transport Police
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