Police rule out terror link to station scare

A chemical scare that sparked panic at a railway station was not terrorist-related, police said today.

Hundreds of people were evacuated and emergency crews cleared pubs and restaurants after several people reported feeling ill at Enfield Chase railway station in north London last night.

Diners in a nearby restaurants were told to stay indoors while firefighters and police, including anti-terrorist officers, investigated the incident.

But Scotland Yard later said the scare was not believed to have any terrorist implications.

British Transport Police said seven people suffered irritation but did not require hospital treatment after breathing some form of incapacitating spray similar to CS gas.

A spokesman said it was not yet known how or why the spray had been released.

The station was reopened after about four hours, he added