West Hampstead incident: Travel chaos expected as police swarm train station
Trains are currently unable to stop at the station while police tackle the "serious incident".
Police attend West Hampstead station to tackle incident
Police swarmed a London overground train station to tackle a "serious incident". Passengers were quickly evacuated as an emergency alarm sounded through the building.
Travel chaos was expected as trains weren't able to call at the station, National Rail confirmed.
A huge cordon was erected around the busy North London station as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Eyewitnesses have claimed that Metropolitan Police officers are "kicking down a door" in the station, however, these reports are unconfirmed. Another eyewitness took to X, formerly Twitter, and said the incident appeared to be "serious".
A spokesperson for National Rail said on X: "NEW: Trains are currently unable to call at #WestHampstead due to the police dealing with an incident at the station."
A spokesperson from the British Transport Police told Express.co.uk that a man has been arrested for arson and two officers suffered smoke inhalation as a result of the incident.
They said: "At 3.31pm today (Saturday 9 March 2024) British Transport Police officers were called to an incident of anti-social behaviour at West Hampstead Station.
"A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and taken into custody.
"A small fire was contained, and two officers suffered mild smoke inhalation."
They added: "Other than a short delay, trains continued running throughout the incident."
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Man arrested on suspicion of arson after station chaos
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and two officers have suffered smoke inhalation after chaos at West Hampstead station earlier this afternoon.
A spokesperson for the British Transport Police confirmed to Express.co.uk that the man is now in custody.
They said: "At 3.31pm today (Saturday 9 March 2024) British Transport Police officers were called to an incident of anti-social behaviour at West Hampstead Station.
"A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and taken into custody.
"A small fire was contained, and two officers suffered mild smoke inhalation."
They added: "Other than a short delay, trains continued running throughout the incident."
Evacuation alarm sounded at station
An eyewitness says that an "evacuation alarm" sounded at West Hampstead Overground Station as the incident unfolded.
You can see more in the tweet posted to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, below.
The user said earlier this afternoon: "Something going on it West Hampstead.
"Walk in as an evacuation alarm starts going off... Three trains don't stop...
"Then walk out to find the police trying to kick down a door."
Something going on it West Hampstead.
\u2014 Jensy \u2694\ufe0f (@Zaphod2042) March 9, 2024
Walk in as an evacuation alarm starts going off...
Three trains don't stop... Then walk out to find the police trying to kick down a door. pic.twitter.com/mALMzfriNH
Police, fire engines and ambulance at scene say eyewitnesses
Three emergency services are currently in attendance at West Hampstead station according to eyewitnesses.
Passerby have shared information on social media calling the incident "crazy".
One said: "Happened within the past hour, they had police and fire engines. Crazy."
Another said that ambulances are also at the scene.
Happened within the past hour, they had police and fire engines. Crazy.
\u2014 Sir Richard Mountbasket\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 (@RichMountbasket) March 9, 2024
National Rail update
Trains are unable to stop at a London station as police deal with a serious incident.
National Rail has given an update on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
It said: "NEW: Trains are currently unable to call at #WestHampstead due to the police dealing with an incident at the station."
\u26a0\ufe0f NEW: Trains are currently unable to call at #WestHampstead due to the police dealing with an incident at the station
\u2014 National Rail (@nationalrailenq) March 9, 2024
New images show police cordon
There are police cordons in place around West Hampstead station.
Onlookers have shared images from the scene on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
More updates as soon as we have them.
Police incident at West Hampstead Overground station. pic.twitter.com/cezzPZLxbr
\u2014 Life In Kilburn (@LifeInKilburn) March 9, 2024
Good evening
Good evening.
I’m Mieka Smiles and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on this breaking news story.
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