London Bridge station evacuated over suspicious item on train

Armed police with sniffer dogs reopened London Bridge station after commuters were evacuated today following reports of a suspicious item on board a train.

Crowds gathered outside the major transport hub, with members of the public claiming to witness ‘multiple helicopters’ hovering overhead.

British Transport Police (BTP) said they were called to the station at 12.33pm following reports of a suspicious item on board a train.

The station has since been reopened.

‘Officers were called to London Bridge station at 12.33pm following reports of a suspicious item on board a train,’ a BTP spokeswoman said.

‘The station has been closed as a precaution while specialist officers assess the item.

Train operators Southern and Southeastern said that trains were not stopping at the station, one of London’s busiest commuter hubs.

A passenger told how a ‘suspicious package’ was found on a carriage next to the one in which she was sitting.

‘Calmly minding my business when police board my train and say there’s a suspicious package in the carriage next to mine and that I have to evacuate the train,’ she tweeted.

‘Then we had to evacuate the platform. Then we had to evacuate the station.’

Eastenders actor Daniel Coonan was caught up in the commotion, tweeting: ‘Strange scenes at London. The police are everywhere evacuating the station and forcing people off the platforms.

‘Londoners typically demanding the police to tell them why they can’t get a train to where they want to get to. Multiple helicopters in the sky above.’

One Twitter user wrote: ‘Strange scenes at London. The police are everywhere evacuating the station and forcing people off the platforms.

‘Londoners typically demanding the police to tell them why they can’t get a train to where they want to get to. Multiple helicopters in the sky above.’

One person said: ‘Heads up. Don’t come to London Bridge station. It’s currently closed and been evacuated.’

Another wrote: ‘Just been evacuated from #londonbridge station. #drama.’

Network Rail, which manages the London station, said on its Twitter account to expect disruption until at least 2pm.

Thameslink tweeted: ‘If you require to travel to or from the London Bridge area, you will need to use an alternative route. The Police have informed us that whilst they deal with an incident at London Bridge the station is closed.’

Southern said in a statement: ‘All lines are expected to reopen shortly following the emergency services having dealt with an incident at London Bridge.’

Source: Daily Mail