There was a heavy police presence

Finsbury Park station evacuated after teen girl attacks PCSO and runs down the tracks

By JON DEAN Monday, August 6, 2012
3:33 PM

Finsbury Park Tube Station was evacuated this morning and passengers led to safety through tunnels after a young woman attacked a PSCO and ran down the tracks.

Fire engines attending the scene this morning

At around 10.10am, an 18-year-old woman reportedly assaulted a police community support officer before running away down the underground tunnels.

The area was flooded with fire engines, police trucks and paramedics from around 10.30am and the station remained closed until about 11am.

British Transport Police (BTP) found the woman and arrested her on suspicion of trespass and assualt.

She has been taken to the Whittington Hospital after complaining of stomach pains.

Fire fighters get ready to search the tunnels

As soon the as the alarm was sounded, Transport for London (TfL) evacuated the station in case the woman was dangerous.

They turned the power off for the tracks, disabling the trains, so neither the trespasser or search party got electrocuted.

One passenger, a Dutch national working at the Olympics who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The Tube we were on stopped just outside the station.

“The driver told us it was because someone had been spotted walking along the tracks. To get out of the station we had to get off the train and walk through the tunnels. It was quite amazing.”

A spokesman for TfL said: “There was a trespasser on the track and we had to stop the trains while we got them off. The station was closed for about 25 minutes.”

A host of emergency services, including twenty fire fighters, four fire engines, and a host of paramedic and police vehicles, attended the scene - which TfL say is a standard response to a trespasser on the train lines.

A spokesman for BTP said: “Officers were called to Finsbury Park station following reports of a woman trespassing on the tracks. The woman is also alleged to have assaulted a PCSO at Finsbury Park. She ran off into tunnels and trains on the Victoria and Piccadilly lines were disrupted as a result.”