Parsons Green tube explosion: May says threat level remains at severe - as it happened

Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was “receiving regular updates” on the situation at Parsons Green.

Passengers were seen being led off a train at Parsons Green, according to a series of images by Twitter user Laura G.

Video has emerged showing a bucket on fire on a tube train as London Underground staff urged passengers to “get away”.

Passengers reported seeing a device on a tube train at the station and hearing a bang during the Friday morning rush hour.

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One passenger, named only as Lucas, told BBC 5 live:

I heard a really loud explosion - when I looked back there appeared to be a bag but I don’t know if it’s associated with it.

I saw people with minor injuries, burnings to the face, arms, legs, multiple casualties in that way. People were helping each other.

The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has appealed for calm.

Speaking to Sky News he said:

I’m afraid my information is limited and it really is important not to speculate at the moment. Everybody should keep calm and go about their lives in as normal a way as they possible can. The British Transport Police, TFL are on it. And they will be updating their websites as and when we get more information.

Witness Sham Shakil told BBC News that he saw several people “falling over themselves” as they tried to get out of Parsons Green station.

London fire brigade said it had sent six fire engines and 50 firefighters to the incident.

Fire crews from Fulham, Wandsworth, Chelsea, Hammersmith and other surrounding fire stations were in attendance, it said in statement.

The tube service has been partially suspended in west London after reports of an explosion and injuries Parsons Green underground station.

A Transport for London spokeswoman said the District line had been suspended between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon due to a security alert.

The Metropolitan and British Transport police forces, including armed officers, were at the scene, along with the London ambulance service, though none was immediately able to provide further details on what had happened.

A witness said there were injuries at the station after a “stampede” of passengers.

BBC news reader Sophie Raworth said she had seen a woman with burns “from top to toe” being stretchered into an ambulance.

Media technology consultant Richard Aylmer-Hall, 53, was sitting on the District line train bound for central London at about 8.20am when he said panic unfolded around him.

“Suddenly there was panic, lots of people shouting, screaming, lots of screaming,” he said. “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.”

He added: “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.”

Armed police are at the scene.

London Ambulance Service said it had sent multiple resources to the scene including a hazardous area response team.

We will bring you more details here as soon as we have them.