London attack: Parsons Green station re-opens

Britain is on highest terror alert level, 'critical', meaning fresh attack considered imminent

Police, fire and ambulance crew attend to the attack at Parsons Green underground station (Reuters)

Parsons Green station has re-opened less than 24 hours after a bomb exploded on a London Underground train, injuring 29 people.

The improvised explosive device sent a fireball through a packed train carriage during Friday morning rush hour, leaving commuters with flash burns.

Britain is currently on the highest terror alert, “critical”, meaning another attack is expected imminently, and a manhunt is under way for multiple suspects after police scoured District Line CCTV.

Soldiers have been deployed to key sites after the Prime Minister put Operation Temperer into effect, freeing armed and unarmed police from guard duty.

The Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley suggested there may have been more than one person involved, saying investigators were “chasing down suspects”.

Isis claimed responsibility for the blast through its propaganda agency Amaq.

Mr Rowley said detectives have spoken to tens of witnesses, taken a large number of calls to the anti-terror hotline from members of the public, and have so far received 77 images and videos taken at the scene.

He added: “Meanwhile, the improvised explosive device on the train, the remnants of it, have now been made safe and they’ve been taken away for specialist examination by forensic scientists.

“So whilst we chase down the suspects, as the public would expect, we are strengthening our policing resources on the streets of London and across the country whilst continuing the investigation.”

Additional reporting by agencies