London: Armed police storm train as woman found dead — passengers on LOCKDOWN for 90 mins

ARMED police stormed a London-bound train in the hunt for a man after a woman was found dead, as terrified passengers were held in lockdown for 90 minutes.

Dozens of firearms officers descended on to the train at Gillingham, Kent, at around 9pm last night after a woman's body was found in Benenden. 

Police are still looking for a man in connection with the death, which is being treated as suspicious. 

Officers “looked under seats and bins” as part of the frantic operation. 

As officers combed the carriages, passengers were reportedly kept in lockdown for 90 minutes. 

The station shut down and a police helicopter was scrambled to help the search. 

British Transport Police said officers also scoured trains at St Pancras, but the man was not found.

Kent Police remain tight-lipped about the operation this morning, but confirmed it is "ongoing".

No further details about the woman or her death were given. 

A spokeswoman said police were initially called several hours before the train searches.

She said: "Police were called at 4.20pm following the death of a woman in The Street, Benenden. The death is being treated as suspicious and efforts are ongoing to trace the man in connection with the incident.

"The woman and man were known to each other and searches are being carried out throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network.

"Next of kin have been notified of death."

In footage posted online, agitated passengers can be heard asking police why they are being held. 

One frustrated man shouts: “Let me off a train so I can breathe.” 

To which police reply by telling him they are “looking for a man in connection with an incident”. 

Railway worker Wesley Tabi was at Gillingham station when armed police descended at around 9pm. 

He said:“Suddenly a load of old bill flooded the station. There must have been 30 of them with their machine guns. It was like SWAT.

“They started walking up and down the train and there were some on the platform with dogs.

“I read online that a man was missing, but they were looking under the seats, in bins, everywhere.”

Mr Tabi, who works for Transport for London, says passengers on the train began to get frustrated as the delays continued.

He added: "It was like a sweat box on there. 

"The doors weren't opened. It was sweltering and people were getting irate.”

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