Parsons Green Tube explosion as it happened: Manhunt for suspect in botched London terror attack

This concludes out live coverage of the Parsons Green attack.

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Chelsea football club, who are due to play at Arsenal at their home ground Stamford Bridge in west London on Sunday, have released this advice to all supporters travelling to the game.

A Downing Street spokesperson has confirmed that US president Donald Trump has spoken to Theresa May in the wake of the Parsons Green attack.

A PM spokesperson said: "President Trump called the Prime Minister earlier today to offer his condolences over this morning's cowardly attack in London.

"They also discussed North Korea's latest missile test, agreeing it was a reckless provocation and that China must now use all its leverage to bring pressure to bear on the North Korean regime to ensure they change course and end these illegal tests."

It is not clear if the pair spoke about Trumps "unhelpful" comments he made previously regarding what the police may or may not have known about the suspect.

To no real surprise, Transport for London (TfL) is advising passengers who normally take the District Line to seek alternative routes home as there is no service between Earls Court and Wimbledon for the rest of the evening.

The London Ambulance Service has given another update, increasing the number of patients they took to hospital to 19.

The total number of injured is now believed to be 23 after four others walked themselves to hospitals in the wake of the explosion.

We have video of PM Theresa May commenting on Donald Trump's "unhelpful" remarks from before claiming police knew who the terror suspect as before the attack.

Sky News are reporting that police have identified a potential suspect in the Parsons Green bombing after reviewing CCTV footage.

The police have evacuated the area surrounding Parsons Green tube station as part of the ongoing investigation into the terrorist incident.

The MET said in a statement:

Prime Minister Theresa May has condemneded the "cowardly" Parsons Green terror incident, saying the explosive device used in the explosion "was intended to cause significant harm".

May also rebuked US President Donald Trump over his remarks on the the incident, saying that it is not "helpful for anybody to speculate on... an ongoing investigation".

Earlier today, Trump responded to the incident describing it as "another attack in London by a loser terrorist".

The leader was previously condemned for his remarks in the wake of London terror attacks in which he chose to personally attack Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Full story here.

Sign of goodwill in the wake of the terror attack as one local takeaway owner is offering free pizza to emergency workers at the scene.

Supermarket chain Lidl have said they are "shocked" at this morning's attack after pictures appear to show the homemade explosive device was carried in one of their plastic bags.

In a statement, they added: "We are shocked and concerned to have learned of an incident at Parsons Green this morning and our thoughts are with those affected.

"We will, of course, support the authorities should they need our assistance in their investigations. We are closely monitoring the situation as it develops over the course of the day."

Here is the Home Secretary Amber Rudd's response to this morning's attack.

She said:

Once more people going about their everyday lives have been targeted in a callous and indiscriminate way. My thoughts are with all those injured and affected.

The police and emergency services were quickly on the scene and I would like to pay tribute again to their professionalism and tireless commitment.

I am receiving regular updates on what is an ongoing and active investigation.

I would urge Londoners to remain alert and assist the police and emergency services as much as they can.

We now have a video of the statement Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley gave to the press earlier:

Police have just issued another update, saying they are examining CCTV footage to help find the suspect and forensically examining the explosive device.

No arrests have been made so far.

The statement adds:

Our reporter Josh Robbins is down at Parsons green speaking to locals.

He has been informed that the nearby Lady Margaret School for girls sent a text all parents just after 9am to inform them "checking all registers" and that "no girls have been treated" as a result of the explosion.

Sam, a resident of the Dairy Close estate, which had to be evacuated following the explosion, said she does not know when she can return home.

She told IBTimes UK: "People knocked on the door and told us to get out. When we came out the police moved us here." She said the atmosphere was "more confused than anything else"

"I just want to go home and hope people are OK. The emergency services were amazing. The responded really quickly and really well."

Still no word from police regarding any potential suspects as to who left the explosive device on the tube.

Officers earlier dismissed reports that a "knifeman" was on the run following the explosion and have said they are not looking into any potential second device.

NHS England have said 22 people are being treated in hospital following this morning's explosion.

LAS previously said they had taken 18 people to hospitals across London with non-serious or life threatening injuries, but four more have now taken themselves to hospital.

Donald Trump has responded to the Parson Green incident, describing it as "another attack in London by a loser terrorist".

Trump was previously condemned for his previous remarks in the wake of London terror attacks in which he chose to personally attack Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Full story here:

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has told LBC that there is a manhunt underway following this morning's terrorist incident.

The police have appealed for images and videos of this morning's explosion. The investigation into the terrorist incident is ongoing.

Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley confirms in a statement that this morning's explosion was "a detonation of an improvised explosive device." The investigation is ongoing.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd says her thoughts are with the victims of the terrorist incident.

The National Counter Terrorism Security Office, which is investigating the incident, says it is aware "of a number of casualties". At least 18 people were taken to nearby hospitals following the explosion , but the London Ambulance Service said no-one is thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.

At least 18 people have been taken to hospitals in London following this morning's explosion, the London Ambulance Service said. No-one is thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.

IBTimes UK reporter Josh Robbins is live outside Parsons Green Station.

UK-based security analyst and counter-terrorism expert David Otto told IBTimes UK: "It is too early to speculate, but this unfortunate event is very telling of the disorganisation and randomness of terrorism tactics by sympathisers of any form of violent extremism.

"This incident could be a test run or a failed amateur attempt, but it surely puts into doubt the ability of security services to block all holes. No matter how good your response time is , the attack has already been successful in the eyes of the perpetrators."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has released this statement on the terrorist attack at Parsons Green:

"The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the explosion on a train at Parsons Green Station this morning is being treated as terrorism.

"Our city utterly condemns the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life.

"As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism.

"I am in close contact with the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, Government and other emergency services who are responding at the scene and leading the investigation. I will be attending the emergency COBRA meeting in Whitehall this afternoon with the Prime Minister.

"My sincere gratitude goes to all our courageous emergency responders and the TfL staff who were first on the scene.

"I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant, and to check TfL's website for travel advice."

Pictures of a man who was injured in the explosion are circulating on social media. Peter Crowley said his head was charred by "the fireball".

A Twitter user has shared a picture of the inside of the District Line train carriage where the explosion took place . Authorities are treating it as a terrorist incident.

Prime Minister Theresa May has reacted following the incident, praising emergency services for their "brave" response.

Authorities are treating the explosion as a terrorist incident.

The MET have released this statement:

"Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating after an incident on a London tube train this morning. Police were called at approximately 08:20 BST on Friday, 15 September to Parsons Green Underground Station following reports of a fire on the train. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for CT policing, has declared it a terrorist incident. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police attended the scene, along with colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service. At present we are aware of a number of people who have suffered injuries. It is too early to confirm the cause of the fire, which will be subject to the investigation that is now underway by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. The station remains cordoned off and we are advising people to avoid the area."

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he is in contact with the police and emergency services.

Police continue to advise people to avoid the area. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is at the scene.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has appealed for calm.

"Obviously, everybody should keep calm and go about their lives in a normal way, as normal as they possibly can," he said in a statement.

"As far as I understand it, the British Transport Police and TfL are on it and they will be updating their websites as and when we have more information."

Aerial shots show people being escorted from the train at Parsons Green station. Police are urging people to avoid the area.

Parsons Green station is in West London. People are being advised to avoid the area. The District Line is currently suspended between Earl's Court and Wimbledon.

One witness said one woman suffered burns "from top to toe". It is not clear yet how many people were injured in the incident.

A video is circulating on social media showing a white bucket on fire in the District Line train at Parsons Green.

The Metropolitan Police advised people to avoid the area. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Some social media users have tweeted pictures showing some wires coming out of the white bucket, believed to have been the source of the explosion.

Witnesses said people left the station covered "in blood and dirt". Some said the explosion sparked a "stampede" that left some injured.

The first images are emerging from the aftermath of the explosion at Parsons Green Tube station on 15 September.

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An explosion has occurred on a London underground train, leaving commuters with facial burns. The incident occurred at Parsons Green station on Friday morning (15 September).

The circumstances and cause of the explosion are not yet clear. Witnesses said a bag exploded in the District Line train, causing widespread panic and prompting people to flee.

Some people tweeted an image of a white bucket in a Lidl plastic bag, which is on fire, and believed to be the source of the explosion. A witness said "a fireball flew down [the] carriage and we just jumped out open door."

There is a heavy police presence in the area. Officials said they are investigating the incident. The Metropolitan Police said in a Tweet that officers are in attendance. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) and the London Fire Brigade are also at the scene.

"We were called at 9:20am to reports of an incident at Parsons Green underground station," Natasha Wills, assistant director of operations at the London Ambulance Service.

"We have sent multiple resources to the scene including single responders in cars, ambulance crews, incident response officers, and our hazardous area response team, with the first of our medics arriving in under five minutes.

"Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries. More information will follow when we have it."

The TFL Travel Alert said they are investigating the incident and urged customers travelling "between Wimbledon & Earl's Court to use alternative routes".