On Friday morning, a makeshift explosive detonated on a London Underground train as it left the Parsons Green station in Southwest London. At least 18 were injured in the blast and subsequent stampede that followed. The explosion occurred at 8:20 am local time, according to the New York Times, and is being treated as a “terrorist incident.”
According to several London Tube passengers who were in the presence of the explosion, a loud booming noise filled the carriage of the train, followed by a wave of heat and a wall of fire. Panicked commuters attempted to escape, but were stopped and further injured by stampedes of others blocking the carriage doors.
Video circulating on Twitter shows a white bucket on fire in a London Tube train, purported to be the explosive device at the Parsons Green stop.
#parsonsgreen pic.twitter.com/0OUV819EtE
— Sylvain Pennec (@sylvainpennec) September 15, 2017
A woman named Katherine Manson tweeted that she was narrowly saved from the stampede on the stairs of the Parsons Green stop by a stranger. A hospital spokeswoman for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said a small number of injured people had been admitted, a majority of which they’re calling the “walking wounded.”
https://twitter.com/KatherineManson/status/908608906406047747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Flondon-underground-explosion-report
London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote in a passionate statement shared across social media that, “Our city utterly condemns the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life. As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism.”
https://www.facebook.com/MayorofLondon/posts/526821344330694
From the United States, President Donald Trump called the terrorists behind the bombing “losers,” and suggested a policy to regulate the internet and tighten his much-criticized travel ban in order to target terrorism. He then continued to attack the Obama administration by writing that his team has made more progress on targeting terrorism since his inauguration than in President Barack Obama‘s eight years in office.
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
Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner.The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
We have made more progress in the last nine months against ISIS than the Obama Administration has made in 8 years.Must be proactive & nasty!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
Update 8:27am CT, Sept. 15: According to BuzzFeed News, 22 people in total have been admitted to London hospitals. Four admitted themselves, while the remaining 18 were transported by London Ambulance Service. Most victims are being treated for “flash burns,” according to police.
This story will continue to be updated.
