A middle-aged man who sparked a rush-hour terror alert at one of London’s busiest stations by pulling the communication cord and announcing he had a bomb was today being quizzed by police.
The 45-year-old boarded the South Eastern service at Cannon Street and waited until passengers had boarded at London Bridge before making his threat as it pulled away from platform three.
The packed station was evacuated for 45 minutes as armed anti-terror police stormed the carriage and apprehended the man at 7.15pm.
He was led away flanked by armed officers and taken to a south London police station for questioning.
Forensic teams who examined the black briefcase later said his claim – on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 atrocity – was a hoax.
The station reopened at 7.54pm but delays continued late into the evening.
Witness James Cook said: “It was pretty dramatic. The train on platform three suddenly stopped. Soon train station staff were on scene but then armed police and sniffer dogs arrived.
“The officers entered the train. We couldn’t see what happened next as we were all evacuated from the station then.”
Documentary maker Luis Passarelli, 32, said: “Suddenly about five or six armed police and dogs rushed past us towards the train. You could tell they were treating it very seriously.
“You don’t want to speculate about his motive but the anniversary of 9/11 may not be a coincidence”
Commuter James Card said the man, of Asian appearance wearing casual trousers and a shirt, did not struggle as he was led away by police.
He said: “He hardly looked like a raving jihadist. He was calm as he was brought out. He wasn’t saying anything or struggling.”
BTP are appealing for anyone who was on the train and who witnessed the incident to contact them on 0800 405040 or via text on 61016 quoting log 447 of 11/09/2014.
