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As the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were treating the explosion on a tube at Parsons Green station as a terror attack, the mayor called on people to come together. Mr Khan tweeted a statement of support, saying Londoners “utterly condemn the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life.” He confirmed he would be attending the emergency COBRA meeting this afternoon, chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May. This is the fourth major terror attack Mr Khan has had to deal in the capital with during his short time in the post, following on from the attack at Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as parliament, an incident at London Bridge and Borough Market and the attack on a mosque in Finsbury Park.

GETTY/AFP This is the fourth major terror attack Mr Khan has had to deal in the capital

His statement said: “As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism.” There are reports of multiple injuries including facial burns and those consistent with a stampede after the device was detonated during rush hour on Friday morning, around 8.15am. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) said around 18 people were injured, none of them are thought to be in a life-threatening condition. Police have said the device did not fully detonate, meaning the casualties and damage could have been far higher.

Parsons Green terror attack, pictures from the scene Fri, September 15, 2017 Shocking pictures after many people have been injured after an explosion on Tube train at Parsons Green, London Play slideshow Twitter/gacv80 1 of 52 Victim of the Parsons Green explosion

The mayor's statement in full says: “The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the explosion on a train at Parsons Green Station this morning is being treated as terrorism. “Our city utterly condemns the hideous individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life. “As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism. “I am in close contact with the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, Government and other emergency services who are responding at the scene and leading the investigation. “I will be attending the emergency COBRA meeting in Whitehall this afternoon with the Prime Minister. “My sincere gratitude goes to all our courageous emergency responders and the TfL staff who were first on the scene.

SWNS There are reports of multiple injuries including facial burns

We will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism Sadiq Khan

“I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant, and to check TfL’s website for travel advice.” Speaking to LBC radio, he said Londoners will see more police on the streets of the British capital after an explosion at a metro station, which officers said was a "terrorist incident." "They will see over the course of today and the next few days an enhanced police presence, not simply on the public transport network but also across London.” Mr Khan’s statement bears resemblance to the previous ones he has made following each terror attack to rock the capital. Following on from the attack at parliament in March, Mr Khan said: “This was not only an attack on our city and our country, but on the very heart of our democracy and the symbol of the values we cherish most – democracy, freedom, justice and tolerance.

“These are the same values that those who attack us hate so much. And the best way we can honour those who have tragically lost their lives is to ensure that we always uphold these values.” After the June attack in Borough Market, he said: “I’m calling on all Londoners to pull together, and send a clear message around the world that our city will never be divided by these hideous individuals who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life.” In June, after the Finsbury Park attack, Mr Khan said: “This was clearly a deliberate attack on innocent Londoners, many of whom were finishing prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. “While this appears to be an attack on a particular community, like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge it is also an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect.”

GETTY Mr Khan’s statement bears resemblance to the previous ones he has made

As news of the attack unfolded on Friday morning Mr Khan initially tweeted: “I'm in contact with @metpoliceuk and emergency services about the incident at Parsons Green.” He later gave a televised interview, branding the terrorists 'cowards'. Mr Khan said: “The terror attack this morning was an attempt by evil and cowardly individuals to kill, to injure, and to disrupt our way of life. “And I want to pay tribute to the commuters on the tube, the Transport for London staff, and to the others who acted swiftly this morning.

“And thankfully there aren’t any serious injuries, thankfully there aren’t any life-threatening injuries “But there are I’m afraid 18 people who have ben taken to a number of hospitals across London, and I want to pay tribute to the police and security services who as we speak are following up various lines of enquiry to ensure those responsible for this evil and cowardly attack are caught. “This is not a spike its a shift, and we’ve seen a shift across major cities in Europe, whether its Barcelona, whether its Brussels, whether its Paris, where its Rotterdam, whether its Stockholm, whether its Manchester, the terrorists have stepped up attempts to kill us, to injure us, to disrupt our way of life and we have got to make sure we’re alert, we’re vigilant, also we’re calm over the next few hours, the next few days.

PA The London Ambulance Service (LAS) said around 18 people were injured

“Londoners will see an enhanced police presence, they will see an increased police presence on our public transport network and across London we’re going to be vigilant . . . we’ve got to be calm.” The Met Police have also urged Londoners to remain calm as a large scale operation at the tube station continued. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "Once more people going about their everyday lives have been targeted in a callous and indiscriminate way. "My thoughts are with all those injured and affected.