Kiwi hurt in London tube bombing

Bomb disposal squad members near Parsons Green tube station in London following the incident....
Bomb disposal squad members near Parsons Green tube station in London following the incident. Photo: Reuters
A New Zealander was among those hurt in a bombing on the London tube yesterday.

Prime Minister Bill English confirmed the New Zealander was taken to hospital following the incident on Friday morning (local time).

"We've been advised there is one Kiwi affected, and the most recent advice I've had in the last few hours is that this person has been to hospital, has had treatment, and has been discharged," he told media at a stand up in Rotorua.

"It's great news that the Kiwi caught up in this attack is not seriously injured on the face of it. Officials have yet to talk to the person themselves, but they have spoken to the family."

Mr English said London was a place where the security and police were on high alert all the time and Kiwis who lived there knew the element of risk they took in being somewhere that had become a target.

"I think it's a place that's mastered to art of being on high alert while they go around their daily life. If this turns out to be a calculated terrorist attack of course that would have an impact on people's level on alertness in London."

Mr English ruled out increasing New Zealand security levels.

"No, no, we have seen nothing like that," he said.

Several people were injured in the incident on the packed underground.

People fled in panic after a "fireball" reportedly left several passengers with facial burns .

Meanwhile, London police say they are making "good progress" in the investigation into the bombing.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said today the public should be reassured and that more police and troops will be on the streets.

He said "we are only aware of one device," referring to the bomb that partially detonated yesterday on a subway train at the Parsons Green station in southwest London.

Rowley says "we have remnants of that device. We are chasing down suspects".

He refused to provide further details about the bomb, saying an investigation was under way.

Rowley said police are combing through closed circuit TV film and other data seeking information on the suspected bomber and on possible accomplices.

Add a Comment