‘Wall of fire’ in London bucket bomb attack
Trump sparks anger in Britain over tweets on fifth attack in six months
At least 22 people were injured after a bomb detonated on a packed London Underground train yesterday, setting off a “wall of fire” that burned commuters in Britain’s fifth terror attack in six months.
Witnesses saw passengers with facial burns and hair coming off at the Parsons Green station in west London after the explosion on the train during the morning rush hour. One local resident, Charlie Craven, who was on his way to the station, said he heard a “massive bang”.
Witness Lauren Hubbard described it as “a wall of fire”.
Police said a hunt involving hundreds of detectives backed by the intelligence services was underway to find out who was responsible. Rowley declined to say if the suspected bomber had been on the train, saying it was a live investigation.
Pictures taken at the scene showed a slightly-charred white bucket with a supermarket freezer bag on the floor of the carriage. The bucket, still intact, was in flames. Police sources cited by British media said the device had a timer but had failed to detonate fully.
US President Donald Trump said that “loser terrorists” were behind the attack, adding that they were already “in the sights” of British police. 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.
The UAE strongly condemned the terrorist blast and rejected all forms and practices of instigated violence and extremism.
At least 22 people were injured after a bomb detonated on a packed London Underground train during the morning rush hour yesterday in what police are treating as a “terrorist incident”.
Witnesses reported seeing passengers covered in blood and with facial burns and hair coming off at Parsons Green station in west London after the explosion on the train.
“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.
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 looked like the type used by builders and there appeared to be cables coming out of it. According to Sky News, investigators suspect the device did not fully detonate.
The National Health Service said 18 people were taken by ambulance to hospital, while four others made their own way to hospitals.
Rowley said most of the people taken to hospital were being treated for “flash burns”. The MI5 intelligence service is assisting investigators.
Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with the injured and will be chairing an emergency cabinet meeting later in the day.
‘Sick and demented’
Armed police and sniffer dogs could be seen on the train and around the station, which is set in a leafy suburb of southwest London popular with well-off commuters and filled with chic cafes.
The station was closed, as well as an entire section of the District Line where it is located and police urged people to stay away from the area.
Local residents and businesses rallied together with businesses offering tea and the use of their toilets to residents unable to get home.
One local resident, Charlie Craven, who was on his way to the station, said he heard a “massive bang”.
“I looked around and the first thing I saw was an orange sort of fire, the sort of thing you see in a movie,” he said.
The incident is the fifth terror attack in six months in Britain since March, when a lone attacker mowed down pedestrians and stabbed a police officer outside the British parliament.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged Londoners to remain “calm and vigilant”.
“As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism,” he said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump said the attack was carried out by a “loser terrorist”. “These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!” he said on Twitter, without explaining further.
A total of 35 people have been killed in four previous attacks in London and Manchester since March.