Armed police storm London-bound train in manhunt for suspected killer after woman found dead in Kent

Kent Police said the man was still at large and searches were continuing

Police at Gillingham railway station on 5 February 2016 (Yeside Fawehinmi )

Passengers have described their shock as armed police stormed train heading from Kent into London wearing balaclavas and carrying tasers and guns.

The service was held at Gillingham for two hours on Thursday night as officers searched for a suspected killer after a woman was found dead earlier in the day.

As the manhunt continued today, Kent Police would not confirm the cause of the woman's death or why armed officers were deployed.

A man filmed the search from his seat, showing increasingly frustrated passengers pleading to be allowed off the train and demand they be told what was happening.

“We’re looking for someone who’s been involved in an incident,” a police officer could be heard saying. “I am sorry, we will get you on your way as soon as we can.”

When asked whether the missing man had a “gun or a bomb”, he said he could not divulge any more information.

“An incident has taken place and we’re looking for someone,” the officer added. “It’s a very serious situation and we can’t really share what it’s about.”

All trains were stopped on the line as the investigation continued, seeing police with sniffer dogs search the railway station.

It caused severe delays and Southeastern was urging travellers to find different routes to and from London late into the night.

Armed police boarded the train after it pulled into Gillingham station shortly after 9pm.

Police at Gillingham Railway station on 4 February 2016 (Yeside Fawehinmi)

Wesley Tabi, a railway worker from the Isle of Sheppey who was on the train, told Kent Online the doors opened briefly before shutting and locking everyone inside.

"Suddenly a load of old bill flooded the station,” he added.

"There must have been 30 of them with their machine guns. It was like Swat. They started walking up and down the train and there were some on the platform with dogs.

"I read online that a man was missing, but they were looking under the seats, in bins, everywhere.

"I heard someone say they might have to take the train back to the depot to do a forensic search on it."

Passengers were allowed to leave the train and board another service around two hours later.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said the search started following a call to a residential address in Benenden, where a woman was found dead at around 4.20pm.

“The death is being treated as suspicious and efforts are on-going to trace a man in connection with the incident,” she added.

“The woman and man are known to each other. Searches have been carried out since the afternoon of 4 February throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network and are on-going.

“Next of kin have been notified of the death.”

As well as Gillingham, “extensive” searches were carried out in Faversham and the Weald area, including a helicopter search, but the man has not yet been found.