An improvised explosive device was detonated on the London Tube Friday morning in what authorities are describing as a terrorist attack.
CNN reports that 23 people were injured in the explosion, which took place during rush hour. A manhunt is underway for those responsible.
According to The Evening Standard, the blast took place at 8:20 a.m. at Parsons Green station, which is on the District line route between Earl’s Court and Wimbledon in southwest London. The Tube train had just pulled into the station and the doors had just opened when the explosion went off in the last carriage. 19 of the people injured were taken to the hospital by paramedics, while others arrived at the hospital themselves. Most of the injuries are believed to be flash burns, and none of those injured are thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition.
Video shows apparent bucket IED burning on the London subway; at least 22 people were injured in the incident today. https://t.co/LVwrSSUcme pic.twitter.com/JxmieloKV1
— ABC News (@ABC) September 15, 2017
According to a local interviewed by the Washington Post, Parsons Green is not a major tourist area, but is instead home to many cafes, pubs and shops.
“It feels very far away from the center,” Kate Llewellen-Jones, who lives next to the Underground station, told the Post.
Another recent terrorist attack in London did take place near a tourist area. In March a terrorist drove a 4x4 into a crowd of people walking on Westminster Bridge before crashing into the gates of the House of Commons, killing three people and injuring 40 more.
In early September the State Department extended its travel alert for Europe through November 30 following terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, Spain; as well as in Turku, Finland. The alert, which had been issued in May and was originally set to run through September 1, warns that there is a continued threat of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, with extremists continuing to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets and shopping malls, and local government facilities, as well as other soft targets.
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