A manhunt has been launched for the knifeman who left commuters ducking for cover and screaming as he rampaged through a south west London tube station during rush hour.
The man was spotted at Balham station wielding a blade before jumping the station barriers and escaping just after 7pm on Monday.
The British Transport Police (BTP) has started an investigation and appealed for information from witnesses who were on the busy Northern line underground train or in the station.
Footage on social media shows passengers hiding from the knifeman, diving for cover and laying low in the tube carriages.
One passenger screams ‘oh my god’ and asks ‘has he gone yet?’ as they cautiously peek down the platform as the suspect flees.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
A witness posted on social media that passengers were ‘screaming’ as the suspect ran through the station.
They wrote: ‘A situation has just happened on the Northern Line. The tube was about to leave Balham station (going to Morden) people started screaming down the platform and banging on the tube windows.’
The witness said someone screamed ‘he has a knife, get off the train’.
They added: ‘If you have any information on this could you please share? I don’t think anyone was injured but hoping everyone is ok and safe!’
The BTP said the investigation was ‘urgent’ as the knifeman suspect was still on the loose.
A statement said: ‘Officers were called to Balham Underground station at 6.11pm yesterday (17 November) following reports of a young man with a knife at the station who jumped the barrier and fled the station.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police said: ‘Urgent enquiries into this incident are ongoing.
‘Anyone who witnessed the man or has information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 511 of 17 November.’
This incident follows concern about rail safety after the Huntingdon train mass stabbing on November 1. Some 11 people were wounded, including a train worker who was knifed while shielding passengers but has now been discharged from hospital.
Last month another manhunt was launched by BTP after a man was shoved onto live railway tracks in front of commuters at Liverpool Lime Street station.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.