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Loughborough Junction: three killed by train in south London Three graffiti artists killed by train at Loughborough Junction
(about 4 hours later)
Three men in their 20s have died after being hit by a train near Loughborough Junction in south London. Three graffiti artists have been killed by a freight train on tracks in south-west London, prompting expressions of grief and disbelief from the city’s street art community.
Spray cans were found near where their bodies were discovered and British Transport Police has confirmed it is investigating whether the three men were graffiti artists. British Transport Police (BTP) found the bodies of three men believed to be in their 20s after being called at 7.34am on Monday, when a train driver noticed them on tracks between Brixton and Loughborough Junction stations. Spray cans were found close by and officers were seen photographing graffiti as part of their inquiries.
British Transport Police (BTP) were called to the scene at 7.34am on Monday after a train driver noticed bodies on the track. A BTP spokesman said the force was still trying to trace the train that hit the men and it was not clear what time they were hit. Rail industry sources told the Guardian that the incident occurred at about 5am, before passenger services were running in the area. They believed the victims may have been caught in the slipstream of a passing empty train.
Supt Matthew Allingham said three men were declared dead at the scene. “It is believed that they died earlier in the morning and that their injuries are consistent with having been hit by a train,” he said. Supt Matthew Allingham said the three men were declared dead at the scene. “Officers have delivered the sad news to one family that we believe one of the men was their son,” he said. “We are still working to identify and locate the next of kin for the other two men. If you know who they are, please let us know.
One of the men killed has been identified and his parents informed. Allingham said: “Officers have delivered the sad news to one family, as we believe one of the men was their son. We are still working to identify and locate the next of kin for the other two men. All three men are believed to be in their 20s.” “Our investigation is focusing on how and why the men came to be on the tracks in the early hours of this morning.”
Asked later about speculation they could have been graffiti artists, Allingham told BBC News: “It is one possibility, yes.” Helicopter news footage showed police officers, forensic investigators in white jumpsuits and railway officials loading bodybags on stretchers before midday, shortly after officers could be seen walking on to the tracks at Brixton station.
He said: “Clearly being on any railway track is very, very dangerous situation to be in and when graffiti artists do get onto tracks there is a massive risk.” Trespassing on railway tracks is highly dangerous and deaths are not uncommon, but the incident is believed to be the first multiple fatality of graffiti artists painting illegally since 2007. In that incident Bradley “Ozone” Chapman, 21, and Daniel “Wants” Elgar, 19, were struck by a District line train while running away from police who spotted them painting trains at a London Underground depot near Barking, east London.
He also said police were trying to confirm which train hit the men. A street artist with knowledge of the stretch of line where the men died said he understood the victims were well-known figures in the scene.
“The train that went through at 7.34 noticed the three males on the tracks and reported that into us, but it wasn’t the actual train that hit the individuals,” he said. “We are trying to ascertain which train that was. We know it was probably some time prior to that and may have been during the hours of darkness.” “It’s a very well-known section of track for graffiti,” said the source, who asked not to be named. “It still has some of the oldest illegal graffiti in south London and even has pieces down there from several writers who have passed away. It leads into central London which increases the desirability for getting seen.”
Local graffiti writers know that freight trains travel along the section of track, he said. “Most local writers, they would be fairly tuned into the risks along there and so would usually stay close to the sides to be able to avoid trains.”
According to people working in rail, the accident is thought to have occurred at about 5am, before passenger services were running in the area. They believe the victims may have been caught by the slipstream of a passing empty train on its way to a depot. The raised lines in the area between Brixton and Loughborough are fairly clear and straight, he said. “It has some of the longest-standing contemporary illegal graff, a lot of names reaching back two decades along that track,” he said. “There’s usually a middle section down parts of the track there that could be used as a way of avoiding trouble, they might have been moving between sections.”
Police were alerted after a driver saw bodies on the tracks while operating an early morning service. Helicopter news footage showed what appeared to be forensic officers and emergency workers around two bodies on stretchers on a section of the track away from the station. Tributes were paid to the victims on the ukfrontline Instagram page, an online hub for graffiti artists in the UK, where there was disbelief that three could be killed in a single incident. “Don’t think I ever heard of so many writers being took out at the same time absolutely devastating news,” wrote one commenter. “My thoughts and prayers go out to those involved, their friends and their families.”
Several Thameslink trains have been cancelled. Loughborough Junction station remained open but BTP said services would be delayed while the scene was investigated. Painting trains is seen as the gold standard of graffiti art, but writers are also lured into taking risks on the tracks because of the respect gained for painting the most difficult to reach but nonetheless highly visible spots.
Det Supt Gary Richardson, from BTP, said: “My team are now working hard to understand what happened and how these three people came to lose their life on the railway. My thoughts are with the family and friends of these three people.
“At this time we are treating their death as unexplained as we make a number of immediate inquiries. I would ask anyone who was near to Loughborough Junction this morning and saw something which they think might be relevant, please contact us as soon as possible.”
About a dozen police officers were gathered at Brixton station on Monday morning, one stop away from Loughborough Junction, walking along the tracks in the direction of the incident.
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said his office was in close contact with the police investigating the incident. “My heart goes out to the families of the three people killed at Loughborough Junction,” he said in a statement.The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said his office was in close contact with the police investigating the incident. “My heart goes out to the families of the three people killed at Loughborough Junction,” he said in a statement.
My heart goes out to the families of the three people killed at Loughborough Junction station this morning. If you have any information about this incident please contact @BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 pic.twitter.com/kYzEbIvMpSMy heart goes out to the families of the three people killed at Loughborough Junction station this morning. If you have any information about this incident please contact @BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 pic.twitter.com/kYzEbIvMpS
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail is assisting the British Transport Police as they investigate an incident at Loughborough Junction this morning.” The rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has opened a preliminary investigation. Several Thameslink trains were cancelled. Stations in the area remained open but services were delayed while the scene was investigated. A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail is assisting the British Transport Police as they investigate an incident at Loughborough Junction this morning.” The rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has opened a preliminary investigation.
Loughborough Junction is an elevated station managed by Thameslink and located on a line between Herne Hill and Elephant and Castle stations.
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