Commuters at Balham Tube station in south London were left terrified on Monday evening after a man armed with a machete rampaged through the station. The incident occurred on the Northern line at around 6pm, prompting an urgent manhunt by British Transport Police.
Social media footage shows shell-shocked passengers sheltering inside a train carriage, with some heard saying “oh my God” and “has he gone yet?” as they peered out onto the platform. Eyewitnesses reported people screaming and banging on train windows, warning others of the knife-wielding man.
One witness described the scene: “Young guy holding a huge knife/machete ran towards us. Everyone ran and hid on the next tube over. So so scary, glad to be okay.” Another wrote online that people were “screaming and banging on the windows of the train that there was a man with a knife”.
The man reportedly jumped the station barriers and fled the scene. British Transport Police have appealed for witnesses and information. A spokesman said: “Officers were called to Balham Underground station at 6.11pm yesterday (17 November) following reports of a young man with a knife at the station who jumped the barrier and fled the station. Urgent enquiries into this incident are ongoing.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 511 of 17 November.
