A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death at a London Underground station.
Officers from the British Transport Police were called to Hillingdon Station shortly before 4pm on Tuesday following a report of a serious assault on the platform.
Members of the London Ambulance Service and air ambulance attended the scene and found the man with a serious injury consistent with being stabbed.
He was declared dead at the scene and his family have been informed.
Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, from British Transport Police, said: “This was a shocking act of violence which has seen a man tragically lose his life this afternoon.”
“While we are at the early stages of our investigation, we believe a group of young men were involved in an altercation on the platform before one of the men received a fatal stab wound.”
“We are doing all we can to find those responsible, and I would urge any witnesses or anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to contact us as soon as possible.”
“Please text BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 382 of 24/09/19. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
“This level of violence is not usual on the rail network, and we will be increasing our uniformed patrols in the Hillingdon area in the coming days to help reassure the travelling public.”
Hillingdon Station remains closed as inquiries are conducted by specialist officers and a cordon remains in place.
Witnesses reported seeing blood and a person performing CPR on the victim as the underground station was evacuated following the attack.
One person, who asked to remain anonymous, told the PA news agency: “I was on the train with my brother heading for Ruislip. We were about to head for the front carriage but luckily we found some seats, otherwise we may have ended up being witnesses.”
“Suddenly they told everyone to leave the station immediately. Most people were still quite scared and hanging on the far side of the platform.”
“The event occurred closer to the stairs so it was quite clear what was happening as we exited. A lot of blood was obvious and furthermore, a person giving CPR on the train floor.”
A heavy police presence was still in place at the station hours after the incident and at least 11 emergency vehicles were seen there at the time of the fatal stabbing.
Danielle Foster, who was driving past the station at the time, told PA: “There were eight police cars and three ambulances outside Hillingdon station at 4.15pm – hearing so many sirens, I knew something terrible had happened.”
“Lots of people were being turned away from the station as it had been closed. Then the police helicopter began circling the scene at approx 5pm.”
A police helicopter remained at the scene after 8pm as a road close to the station was cordoned off by specialist officers.
Officers are using torches to search the area outside the station.
At one point, a British Transport officer was seen searching in a bin outside the Swallow Pub next to the London Underground station.
Some officers are searching drains near the station and forensics officers can also be seen in and around the platforms.
Transport for London confirmed there is disruption on both Underground lines at Hillingdon Station, as well as disruption to buses in the area.
The Metropolitan Line will now terminate at Ruislip station and the Piccadilly Line will stop at Rayners Lane station.
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