Armed police evacuated a Central line train at Stratford station during the morning rush hour on 12 August after receiving a report of a man with a firearm. The train was searched and no weapons were found, but the incident caused minor delays on the entire line, according to Transport for London (TfL) and British Transport Police (BTP).
The report was received at 7:44am, prompting armed officers to meet the train at Stratford station in east London, where passengers were evacuated and the carriage was searched. A BTP spokesperson told Metro: 'We received a report of a man with a firearm on board a Central Line train at 7.44am today (12 August). The train was met by armed officers at Stratford station where it was evacuated and searched. No firearms were found, nor anyone matching the description. Enquiries into the report are ongoing.'
Passenger accounts and social media reactions
A passenger on the affected train took to social media to describe the scene, writing: 'My central line train at TfL has just been evacuated with all these armed police looking for someone with a weapon…. Great.' Others reported seeing armed police patrolling the platforms at Stratford station during the incident.
The evacuation disrupted the morning commute for many travellers on the Central line, one of London's busiest Tube routes. The incident occurred as the capital was bracing for soaring temperatures, with forecasts predicting highs of up to 38°C the following day, adding to the discomfort for passengers facing delays.
Impact on services and police investigation
TfL's travel status update reported 'minor delays westbound entire line and minor delays North Acton to Ealing Broadway / West Ruislip and Leytonstone to Epping / Hainault while police carry out an investigation.' The delays affected the entire Central line, with specific sections experiencing slower service as police conducted their enquiries.
Transport for London declined to comment further, stating that the matter was a police incident. National Rail also warned of possible disruption to services, with several train operators running amended schedules, including Great Western Railway, c2, Northern, CrossCountry and Chiltern Railway.
The BTP confirmed that no firearms were found and no one matching the description was located. Enquiries into the report are ongoing, and passengers were advised to check for updates before travelling.
