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Parsons Green explosion: 'Many injured' in stampede as people flee reported blast at London station

People were pushed and trampled, said one witness

Andrew Griffin
Friday 15 September 2017 10:10 BST
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Parsons Green eyewitness: 'The doors opened and people were piling up on top of each other'

People have been injured in a "stampede" as they attempted to escape a reported explosion on the London Underground, according to a witness.

After the explosion, a number of people were hurt as people ran from it, one commuter said. People were "pushed and trampled on", and had to be treated by ambulance crews, he said.

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Many people ran for the same door after the blast and ended up trampling over each other, according to another.

"I was blissfully reading my paper and listening to a podcast and suddenly the whole world charged past me down the platform, down the Tube," said Richard Aylmer-Hall, a media consultant who was on the District Line train when panic unfolded at around 8.20am UK time.

"I was on the Tube, we had just stopped at Parsons Green, I was on my way up from Wimbledon towards Paddington and suddenly there was panic, lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of screaming.

"There was a woman on the platform who said she had seen a bag, a flash and a bang, so obviously something had gone off.

"It was an absolutely packed, rush-hour District Line train from Wimbledon to Edgware Road.

"I saw crying women, there was lots of shouting and screaming, there was a bit of a crush on the stairs going down to the streets.

"Some people got pushed over and trampled on, I saw two women being treated by ambulance crews.

"Since then, every emergency vehicle in London has gone past me, fire engines, ambulances, every type of police vehicle."

Mr Aylmer-Hall added: "I don't think anyone was hurt by the actual device or whatever it was."

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