LONDON: British police launched a manhunt on Friday after a bomb detonated on a packed London Underground train, unleashing a "wall of fire" that injured at least 29 people in the country's fifth terror attack in six months.
1/2We express our deepest sympathies to all affected by the explosion at #ParsonsGreen. We comdemn this terrorist act and stand with the UK
— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) September 15, 2017
We are pleased to advise that there are no reported #UAECitizens affected in the explosion at #ParsonsGreenStation in #London. @MOFAUAE
— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) September 15, 2017
2/2 We strongly advise all #Emiratis in #London to avoid the #ParsonsGreen area & to follow @metpoliceuk & local media for further updates
— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) September 15, 2017
.@metpoliceuk have confirmed that the explosion on a train at Parsons Green Station is being treated as terrorism. https://t.co/dKZCcjEZjT pic.twitter.com/fFzOf6wNXu
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) September 15, 2017
Witnesses saw passengers with facial burns and hair stumble out at Parsons Green station in west London after the explosion on the train during the morning rush hour.
"At 8:20 this morning at Parsons Green station there was an explosion on a Tube train. We now assess that this was a detonation of an improvised explosive device," police counter-terror chief Mark Rowley said.
Rowley said most of the injuries were due to "flash burns", while others were wounded by the stampede as passengers ran out of the station in panic.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said a "manhunt" was underway.
A local resident, Charlie Craven, who was on his way to the station, said he heard a "massive bang".
"I saw an orange sort of fireball encompassing the whole Tube coming towards you," he said.
Witness Lauren Hubbard described it as "a wall of fire".
Twitter user @Rrigs, who posted pictures of a white bucket smouldering on the train, said: "Explosion on Parsons Green District Line train. Fireball flew down carriage and we just jumped out open door".
The bucket, which was inside a frozen food bag from the budget supermarket chain Lidl, looked like the type used by builders and there appeared to be cables coming out of it.
Police sources cited by British media said the device had a timer but had failed to detonate fully.
'Loser terrorists'
US President Donald Trump said that "loser terrorists" were behind the attack, adding that they were already "in the sights" of British police.
Another attack in London by a loser terrorist.These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
London's Metropolitan Police dismissed the tweet as "unhelpful speculation", and Trump was also rebuked by Prime Minister Theresa May.
"I never think it's helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation," she said, speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting.
May also said the device was "clearly intended to cause significant harm," condemning it as a "cowardly attack".
Armed police on patrol
The National Health Service said 29 people were injured.
Nineteen were taken by ambulance to hospital, while 10 others made their own way to hospitals.
The London Ambulance Service said none of the victims "are thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition".
Eight have since been released.
Explosion on Tube train at Parsons Green District Line #London #ParsonsGreen #DistrictLine #LondonLive pic.twitter.com/PeT8KQBT3o
— Faizz (@fzc77) September 15, 2017
.@metpoliceuk have confirmed that the explosion on a train at Parsons Green Station is being treated as terrorism. https://t.co/dKZCcjEZjT pic.twitter.com/fFzOf6wNXu
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) September 15, 2017
The MI5 domestic intelligence service is assisting investigators, and police said Londoners should expect additional security measures over the weekend.
Armed police and sniffer dogs could be seen on the train and around the station, which is in a leafy area of west London popular with well-off commuters, and filled with chic cafes.
The area around the station was later evacuated as bomb disposal experts secured what was left.
Local residents and businesses rallied together with businesses offering tea and the use of their toilets to people unable to get home.
The local council of Hammersmith and Fulham opened a rest centre in the area for those affected.
The bombing is the fifth terror attack in Britain since March, when a man mowed down pedestrians and stabbed a police officer outside the British parliament.
'Lots of screaming'
Passengers described chaotic scenes at the station in the normally quiet part of west London. Louis Hather, 21, was travelling to work and was three carriages down from where the explosion took place. "I could smell the burning. Like when you burn plastic," he said. Hather saw a woman with burns being carried away on a stretcher. He was trampled on as passengers stampeded out of the station and his leg was badly cut and bruised. Sally Faulding, a 51-year-old teacher, said: "People were falling over each other."
Anyone with images from the scene at #ParsonsGreen tube station is asked to upload them to https://t.co/l9dn1FQr7B pic.twitter.com/6ZzZBnlNG6
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 15, 2017
Anyone who has any info that would assist is urged to contact the hotline 0800 789 321; if it’s an emergency always call 999 #ParsonsGreen
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 15, 2017
Richard Aylmer-Hall, 52, said: "There was panic, lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of screaming". Thirty-five people have been killed in four previous attacks in London and Manchester this year. Three of those involved a vehicle ploughing into pedestrians.
The other attack was a bombing in May at a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in Manchester which killed 22 people, including several children. Otso Iho, a senior analyst at Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre, said the latest attack showed a "continued high intent but low capability" in the terrorism threat in Britain.
Hans Michels, a professor of chemical engineering at Imperial College, said the flash flame "suggests that the explosion was only partly successful". "Much of the bucket still seems to be intact and there appear to be no victims with lethal impact wounds," he said.
Explosion on Parsons Green district line train. Fireball flew down carriage and we just jumped out open door. pic.twitter.com/pGbfotbfsJ
— Rigs (@RRigs) September 15, 2017
#UPDATE Police, ambulance services responding to "incident" at #ParsonsGreen Underground station in west London after reports of explosion
— AFP news agency (@AFP) September 15, 2017
UAE condemns attack
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned a terrorist blast in a crowded train on the London Underground.
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced its total rejection of all forms and practices of instigated violence and extremism while stressing the need for concerted efforts to effectively address extremism and terrorism, which threaten the security of all citizens in their daily lives.
The ministry added that the targeting of civilised societies by terrorists cannot be accepted or underestimated, and will require further serious work and a comprehensive approach, to counter extremist ideologies that promote and justify terrorism.
The UAE expressed its solidarity with the British government and people and the families of those wounded while wishing them a speedy recovery.