'Bomb-wielding' man halts operations at Charing Cross station

Incident sees evacuation and arrest

'Bomb-wielding' man halts operations at Charing Cross station

Insurance News

By Terry Gangcuangco

Terrorism insurers will be only too aware of how major incidents spark interest in their products – and now another case has been thrust into the headlines, thankfully, on this occasion, without any loss of life.

This morning, transport ground to a halt at the Charing Cross railway station in London after a man on the underground tracks claimed to be wielding a bomb. He was arrested at 7:45am BST.

Officers of the British Transport Police (BTP) dealt with the incident after receiving reports earlier in the day. As a precaution, the railway station was evacuated and there have been no trains or underground services in the past couple of hours.

“We are now working to reopen the station as soon as possible and would like to thank passengers and rail staff for their patience and understanding during this incident,” said BTP in a statement.

No further details have been provided, while passengers are advised to check with TfL (Transport for London) or National Rail Enquiries before travelling.

UPDATE: BTP has now labelled the incident a ‘bomb hoax’. 

“A 38-year-old man was detained by officers and has been held under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and taken to a place of safety," it said.

 

Keep up with the latest news and events

Join our mailing list, it’s free!