South London commuters were left terrified after a knifeman rampaged through a Tube station on Monday night.
Social media footage captures shell-shocked passengers sheltering inside a train carriage after the man was reportedly seen with a large machete.
Police have now launched an urgent manhunt for the knifeman after he fled the scene.
The incident occurred on the Northern line at Balham Tube station at around 6pm on Monday.
An eyewitness said commuters were left “screaming” and ducking for cover as the man wielded the blade before jumping through the station’s barriers.
@oddlytess Today at 6:05pm on the Mordern train from Old Street to Balham - This happened to me at Balham underground tonight. Young guy holding a huge knife/machette ran towards us. Everyone ran and hid on the next tube over. So so scary, glad to be okay. #london#balham#balhamattack#tube#underground
♬ original sound - OddlyTess
Passengers can be seen inside the train saying “oh my God” and “has he gone yet?” as they look out the doors onto the platform.
The footage was reportedly filmed just moments after a young man ran through the station holding a machete.
He then ran outside after sending terrified passers-by fleeing for safety.
According to Mailonline, one eyewitness said: “Young guy holding a huge knife/machete ran towards us.
“Everyone ran and hid on the next tube over. So so scary, glad to be okay.”
Another person wrote online that people were screaming and banging on the windows of the train that there “was a man with a knife”.
Another said: 'A situation just happened on the Northern Line.
'The Tube was about to leave Balham going to Morden, people started screaming down the platform and banging on Tube windows 'he has a knife get off the train'”
British Transport Police have now launched a hunt for the man and appealed to witnesses to come forward.
A police spokesman said: “Officers were called to Balham Underground station at 6.11pm yesterday (17 November) following reports of a young man with a knife at the station who jumped the barrier and fled the station.
“Urgent enquiries into this incident are ongoing, and anyone who witnessed the man or has information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 511 of 17 November.”
