Altercation broke out between victim, 16, and two suspects on Hammersmith and City line

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A 16-year-old boy who was shot during an altercation at a tube station is in a serious condition in hospital.

Officer from the Met and British Transport Police were called to the scene at Barking station just before 11.30pm on Wednesday after reports that a man had been stabbed.

A small bullet was later found inside the boy’s abdomen after he was taken to hospital. On Thursday, police confirmed that he remained in a serious condition.

An argument between the victim and two suspects on a Hammersmith and City line train is believed to have continued on to the platform at the station. Following the shooting the two suspects fled the station on foot.

According to passengers, an alarm was pulled when a suspect fled a train after the doors opened at the station. No arrests have yet been made.

Charlotte Maher (@CharMaher) Just witnessed a stabbing on the Hammersmith and city line at barking station. Passenger alarm pulled and a brave gentleman tripped the individual with the knife up.

Witness Charlotte Maher, a journalist for the Evening Standard, said one suspect had appeared to flee along the platform after the doors had opened. On Twitter, she wrote: “We saw blood up the stairs last night as we left the station.”

DCI Sam Blackburn, of the British Transport Police, said: “This was a violent and rare attack, which took place on a late night train out of London.

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“Officers were on the scene within minutes and we are working hard to identify and trace the men responsible for this assault.

“We understand that this was a frightening incident for passengers on the train and at the station, and would encourage anyone who witnessed the attack or the moments leading up to it to come forward and tell us what they saw.”

The incident is not being treated as terror-related. Police are asking anyone who was at Barking train station and saw anything suspicious to get in touch.