Fourteen train passengers treated after ‘smell of chemicals’ reported

Fourteen train passengers treated after ‘smell of chemicals’ reportedThe incident took place on an Elizabeth line platform at the station.The incident took place at Farringdon station, in central London (Jordan Pettit/PA)PA Wire

Fourteen train passengers received medical treatment after a smell of chemicals was reported on an underground platform at a major London railway station, firefighters said.

The incident happened at Farringdon station in the centre of the capital on Thursday morning.

The station was evacuated and closed, but has since reopened.

The station has since reopened (Jordan Pettit/PA)PA Wire

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said in a statement: “Firefighters were called to a report of a smell of chemicals on an Elizabeth line platform at Farringdon station this morning.

“Crews attended and carried out a sweep of the area to check for elevated readings of any chemical substances. No elevated readings were detected.

“Fourteen people were treated at the scene with two of those people taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service as a precaution.”

LFB said it was called about the incident at 9.41am and dispatched various units including two fire engines.

Emergency services at the scene outside Farringdon station (Jordan Pettitt/PA)PA Wire

The scene was declared safe by 11.35am.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it believed a “small number of people potentially came into contact with an unknown substance”.

The incident was initially treated as a suspected gas leak.

BTP said armed police attended the scene as part of the response by the emergency services, which is “typical during a significant incident and should not cause undue concern to the public in this case”.