District Line services thrown into turmoil after 61-year-old detained at Elm Park Underground during morning rush hour
Rush hour commuters faced travel misery today after armed police swooped on a busy east London Tube station following reports of a man carrying a gun.
The 61-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm at Elm Park Underground station in Havering, sparking a massive emergency response that saw the District Line station shuttered for nearly FOUR HOURS.
Panicked passengers were turned away as British Transport Police officers raced to the scene just after 7am – right in the middle of the morning commute.
The station was closed whilst police dealt with the incident, forcing thousands of frustrated travellers to find alternative routes to work.
Transport for London was forced to issue urgent warnings on social media, telling passengers: “This station is closed while police respond to an incident. Tickets are being accepted on London Buses via reasonable routes.”
The dramatic scenes unfolded at the station on The Broadway, which serves as a vital transport link for residents in the busy shopping district and surrounding residential areas.
Officers located a 61-year-old man and arrested him on suspicion of possession of a firearm. The suspect was taken into custody where he remains as police continue their investigation.
The station – which typically sees 2.54 million entries and exits annually – remained sealed off with shutters down until 10:46am, causing knock-on delays across the District Line network.
A British Transport Police spokesperson confirmed: “Officers were called just after 7am today (19 June) to Elm Park Underground station following reports of a man in possession of a firearm.
The force added that enquiries are “ongoing” into the incident.
Elm Park station, which opened in 1935, serves London buses routes 165, 252, 365 and 372, providing vital connections to areas including Romford, Hornchurch and Rainham for thousands of daily commuters.
Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident have been urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 109 of 19 June.
The arrest comes amid heightened concerns about weapons on London’s transport network, with today’s incident causing significant disruption to one of east London’s busiest commuter stations.
Image credit: Nigel Thompson via Wikimedia Commons — Licensed under CC BY‑SA 2.0
