EXCLUSIVE Terrified commuter, 30, ‘thought a terror attack’ was happening when she heard someone screaming ‘knife’ at Sloane Square station – as man ‘stabs himself to death’ in front of horrified passengers
- Emergency services rushed to Sloane Square station in London this morning
- A man, who died at the scene, had suffered ‘serious, self inflicted injuries’
- For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org
A woman has told how she feared she had been caught up in a terror attack as dozens of people fled screaming from a man who killed himself with a knife on an underground station platform.
The 30-year-old said she was almost knocked off her feet by screaming men as they rushed to get away in a panic from the grisly scene.
She said people were shouting out ‘knife’ and she assumed people were being attacked further down the platform at Sloane Square station.
The commuter, who asked not to be named, said:’ I am still shaking and have been in tears for most of the day.
‘I really thought that a terror attack was taking place and people were being attacked with a knife. Someone shouted out knife and everyone was just rushing to get away.
As many as six police vehicles are on the scene alongside a series of ambulance vehicles – including an air ambulance
‘As I stepped on to the platform from the train, I was bashed by lots of men, big burly men who were screaming and running to get away. It was terrifying and it flashed through my mind that I might die’.
READ MORE: PANICKED TUBE PASSENGERS HEARD SCREAMING ‘RUN, RUN’ AS MAN STABBED HIMSELF
The commuter was on a District Line train standing by the carriage doors.
As soon as the doors opened after stopping in the station she heard a ear piercing, terrifying scream from a woman.
‘The scream was just harrowing. You hear fake screams, but this was just awful and I can still hear it now.
‘People from the carriage in front of mine started running past, they were screaming, and you could see the panic in their eyes.
‘I stepped out the carriage and was hit immediately by a man running past. Everyone was trying to get to the escalator and out of the station.’
The witness said she did not see the man who had taken his own life who was lying about 20 metres away.
‘I left the station and ran to a nearby shop. I told him I thought there was a terror attack and he locked the door. Police and ambulances started arriving, and I stayed inside for about 45 minutes. No one knew what had taken place.
‘I do feel very sorry for the person who felt he had to take his own life, but he has left so many others like me traumatised.
‘We all thought there was a terror attack taking place and someone was going round knifing people.’
A huge police presence is on the scene, with the British Transport Police confirming reports of a man sustaining ‘serious, self inflicted injuries’
One commuter, taking to social media, described the awful scene
The commuter continued her morning trip in a black taxi cab, but later forced herself to go back on the tube.
‘I knew that if I didn’t go back straight away I would never use the tube again. It was a terrifying experience and I’m still shaking,’ she said.
Jose Villanueva, 69, who was travelling to work when he saw the incident, told MailOnline: ’I have never seen anything like it in my life. There was blood everywhere.
‘There were a lot of students at the station who were on their way to the museums in South Kensington.
‘Their leader was screaming run, run, run to get away from what was happening. It was awful, and they are going to have nightmares for the rest of their lives.’
Mr Villanueva, a travel agent, was on his normal commute from his home in Croydon to Earls Court when the District Line train arrived at Sloane Square.
He said: ‘I’m not sure if the man was on our train or waiting on the platform. When I looked out of my doors the man was on the floor and he had a knife in his hand.
‘I did not want to get too close, but then saw he dropped the knife and there was a lot of blood.
‘Another passenger started to give him CPR and then paramedics arrived and took over. I don’t think there was anything they could do for him.’
Jose said the man’s body remained on the platform for sometime in full view of passengers on the train.
‘It is not something I would want to witness again. I feel sorry for a woman who was close by. I think she was in hysterics.’
Greg Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, said that the station has been evacuated
Another commuter said that police formed a ‘human shield’ to block the scene from the view of passing trains
Greg Hands, the MP for Chelsea and Fulham, said: ‘Terrible news at Sloane Square station.
‘Thoughts are with the man’s family and all the emergency responders in what must have been a very distressing scene.’
Another commuter said that police formed a ‘human shield’ to block the scene from the view of passing trains.
As many as six police vehicles attended the scene alongside a series of ambulance vehicles – including an air ambulance.
The station was closed until around midday.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police said: ‘Officers were called to Sloane Square Underground station at 10.26am on 28 June following reports that a man had sustained serious, self-inflicted injuries.
‘Paramedics also attended however despite their best efforts the man has been pronounced dead at the scene.
‘The incident is not being treated as suspicious.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called today at 10.22am to reports of an incident at Sloane Square underground station, SW1.
‘We sent a number of resources including an ambulance crew, two medics in response cars, an incident response officer and London’s air ambulance.
‘Sadly, despite our efforts, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.’
Sloane Square, in plush central London, is in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, with the station just 100 metres from John Lewis’ flagship Peter Jones store.
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org
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