Hundreds Briefly Evacuated in London

By Associated Press

October 13, 2001, 8:55 PM EDT

LONDON -- Hundreds of people were evacuated from pubs and restaurants Saturday night after eight people reported feeling ill at a nearby north London rail station, police said.

Sgt. Bob Alleway of the British Transport Police said officials did not believe there were any terrorist links to the incident and that no one was hospitalized.

"One of them complained it was like exhaust fumes, so maybe it was just a bus outside the station or something," he said.

A scientific team in the fire department confirmed that there was "a chemical incident of some sort," at the Enfield Chase train station, said Alleway.

James Greer, 45, a chef at the Beautiful South restaurant, said a fire official came into the business and told everyone to leave. The road was full of ambulances and fire crews, he said. "People were swarming all over the place in massive yellow suits." Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, October 13, 2001