London’s Piccadilly Circus station closed after evacuation – firefighters rush to scene
TUBE passengers were rushed out of Piccadilly Circus station during rush hour on Wednesday as a fire alarm sounded.
Piccadilly Circus: Firefighters attend evacuation in tube station
Footage taken at the scene showed two fire brigades arriving and firefighters heading into the busy station. Passengers took to Twitter to offer updates on the situation as they waited outside for the all-clear. The Piccadilly Line tweeted: " Station Alert: Piccadilly Circus station is closed following a fire alert. Please consider using alternatives, apologises for any difficulties caused."
Piccadilly is one of London's busiest tube stations.
It connects the Bakerloo Line to the Piccadilly Line.
One woman said: "Two fire engines have arrived at Piccadilly Circus.
"Evacuation procedure in place and tube has been closed."
Another commuter said: "Piccadilly Circus being evacuated."
Another traveller posted a video online showing the doors of Piccadilly shuttered as a fire alarm could be heard in the background.
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Piccadilly Circus: Shutters closed on entrance to tube station
Transport for London advised passengers to make alternative arrangements as it announced the fire altert at around 6.40pm.
Less than an hour later it said the incident had concluded.
At 7.23pm the Piccadilly Line tweeted: "Station update: Piccadilly Circus station has now re-opened."
There were no reports of any injuries.
Last night Piccadilly Circus was swarmed by campaigners as Italian politician Matteo Salvini arrived to give a speech at an event.
Mr Salvini failed to show.
Police were called in to keep the peace as 200 protesters marched from Piccadilly to Victoria Station, disrupting traffic.
Some members of the group came dressed as clowns.
Members of Stand Up to Racism, Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Italian anti-fascist groups joined in.