Five people have been injured following a “minor explosion” at the Southgate station on the London Underground.
Paramedics treated five people at the scene after the incident took place shortly after 7 p.m. on June 19th, with two being taken to hospital for further treatment, according to ITV News.
Update 20/06/18 0900: Explosion caused by battery, man arrested
An exploding power drill battery caused panic at Southgate station Tuesday night, with the resulting injuries caused by a stampede to the exits after the small blast, rather than the force of the explosion itself, according to reports Wednesday morning. London’s Evening Standard reports commuters fled after smelling “burning rubber” and seeing flames, and that an elderly woman was trampled on an escalator.
While most reports suggest there was a fault with the battery, the BBC confirmed a man was held by police on suspicion of an act likely to cause an explosion to injure or damage property, and endangering safety on the railway.
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“Police were called… to reports of an explosion and people running at Southgate underground station,” said a Metropolitan Police spokesman.
“Met officers remain at the scene along with colleagues from British Transport Police, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.”
Police locked down the station and were said to be investigating a suspicious package: “Enquiries continue but we do not believe this to be terror-related at time,” noted the British Transport Police in a public tweet.
We have been responding alongside @BTP and @metpoliceuk to an incident this evening. Our statement is below: pic.twitter.com/sdIGcrk7kC
— London Ambulance (@Ldn_Ambulance) June 19, 2018
This story is developing…
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