Explosion on London Underground

Images on social media show a white bucket that is believed to have exploded on board the ship. Photo: Twitter.

Several passengers are said to have suffered facial burns after a white container "exploded" at the back of a District line train. Commuters fled when they heard the explosion at around 8.25am. Emergency services and armed police were at Parsons Green station in west London.

One witness described feeling "fearful and shaking", while one passenger tweeted: "Never been so scared in my life".

A woman at the train station said she was injured in a stampede, according to Reuters.

A witness said flames engulfed one carriage and raced along the train, causing passengers to trample over each other as they ran for the exits. He did not hear an explosion. "I just heard a whoosh. I looked up and saw the whole compartment engulfed in flames, coming towards me."

Bomb disposal squad members outside the train station. Photo: Reuters.

Transport for London has closed part of the Underground due to a "security situation" at Parsons Green station. Train services between Earl's Court and Wimbledon on the District line have been suspended. Customers have been advised to take an alternative route.

The London Ambulance Service said it had sent ambulance crews and a hazardous materials response team to the station. "Our initial priority is to assess the extent and nature of the casualties."

An injured woman sits outside the train station. Photo: Reuters.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson appealed for calm. "I'm afraid the information I have is limited and it's important not to speculate at this stage," he said. "Clearly people need to stay calm and carry on with their lives as normally as possible."

"As far as I know, the British Transport Police and Transport for London are following the incident and they will update the website as we get more information," Mr Johnson said./.

According to VNE