Pregnant girl cut in Tube axe fight

A pregnant teenager was hurt when a vicious axe fight erupted on a rush hour Tube train.

Terrified commuters saw the fight break out between a gang of youths and a young man and his girlfriend as the crowded Central line tube pulled into Mile End station at 6pm.

Witnesses said the fight spilled out of the eastbound train and on to the platform where the pregnant girl's boyfriend produced a meat cleaver.

The gang fled, leaving the girl bleeding heavily from a deep wound to her hands. She was taken to hospital for treatment. Inspector-Bob Darg, of British Transport Police, said: "We were called to reports of a fight. We believe there was a meat cleaver involved and there may have been other weapons as well.

"Two people have received hospital treatment for minor injuries and shock. We are still talking to witnesses and no arrests have been made at this stage." One Tube worker said: "The girl was heavily pregnant - she was about 16. She was of mixed race, the youth with her was white and we think it was her boyfriend. Four black youths started taunting the mixed-race girl about the fact she was with a white boy and spilled on to the platform.

"We saw four black youths run away. One of them was on crutches, doing the best he could to keep up with the others." Eastbound trains did not stop at Mile End for three hours while police forensic teams searched for clues.

Anyone with any information is asked to call British Transport Police on 0800 405040.