Terrifying moment passengers smash windows & jump to safety as Tube fills with SMOKE at Clapham Common station
DRAMATIC footage of passengers smashing their way out of a Tube and jumping to safety has been posted online.
The horror clip was said to have been filmed at London‘s Clapham Common station this afternoon.
People standing on the platform can be seen smashing the carriages’ windows as smoke builds up inside.
As the glass crashed to the ground passengers start forcing their way out onto the platform and swiftly moving away for the Tube.
Others appear to be frantically forcing open the doors, and helping lift passengers from the carriage as smoke pours out around them.
People can be heard screaming over shattering glass as someone yells: “Get off the train.”
In the clip, the station’s schedule board reads: “Emergency. Please leave the station immediately.”
The time shown is amid the rush – at just after 5.45pm on a Friday.
A post on Twitter by Jake Sharp, 32, read: “Stuck on the train at Clapham Common and carriages filling with smoke, doors won’t open if it wasn’t for workmen on the platform we wouldn’t have got out!
“TFL you should be ashamed! The response from station staff was horrific!”
Jake witnessed the horror unfold – and praised quick-thinking passersby who he says pulled their hammers out to crack the Tube’s windows.
He told MailOnline: “There was a smell of smoke on the train, the train went down about five carriages into the tunnel and stopped, the train on the opposite side pulled in and people were running to get off the platform.
“The whole time the carriages were filling with smoke and the doors did not or would not open and when we tried to open them they only opened maybe 10cm.
“Thanks to the workman on the platform on their way home they had hammers and other tools to smash all the windows for everyone to get out.”
Others started commenting on Jake’s Twitter post, too.
One Tube passenger dubbed the moment “dicey and unpleasant”.
More clips have been posted online of the aftermath – showing glass scattered all across the platform.
The windowless Tube also appeared to be blackened by smoke.
TFL took to Twitter at 6.30pm and said: “Sorry for the disruption to your journey.
“There are severe delays on the Northern line at present due to an earlier fire alert at Clapham Common station. We are working to get the service back to normal as quickly as possible.”
British Transport Police and TFL have been approached for comment.