Latest: Spray cans have been found near where three men died after being struck by a train.
The incident occurred on tracks near Loughborough Junction station, south London, which is an area popular with graffiti artists.
British Transport Police (BTP) were called to the scene at 7.30am on Monday and rail industry sources told the Press Association the paint was found nearby and the three people may have been killed overnight, when freight trains operate.
Three people have sadly died after they were struck by a train near to Loughborough Junction in South London. We're working hard to understand how they came to receive their fatal injuries https://t.co/W7zy3SU1rB pic.twitter.com/q0RrbWs0js
— BTP (@BTP) June 18, 2018
Officers were seen taking photographs of graffiti as part of their inquiries.
The men are believed to have been in their 20s.
Officers have informed the family of one man and are working to identify the next of kin of the other two.
Superintendent Matthew Allingham told reporters at the scene that their injuries were “consistent with being hit by a train”.
The first call to police was made by a train driver but the force is still trying to identify the train that hit the men.
There have been no reports of any passenger services being involved, which suggests they were struck by a freight train.
“We know they were dead for a while before we turned up,” Mr Allingham said. “It is a possibility that it was during the hours of darkness. That’s why it wasn’t reported earlier.”
The bodies were found on an elevated section of track with an electric third rail between Brixton and Denmark Hill.
Mr Allingham added: “There isn’t a sort of safe refuge up there so if somebody was on those tracks there wouldn’t be anywhere for them to go to avoid the train.
“As far as I understand it, if they’ve been caught in that section of track when a train came through then they really wouldn’t have had much option.”
BTP are treating the deaths as “unexplained” as officers work to understand “how these three people came to lose their life on the railway”.
Anyone who was near to Loughborough Junction on Monday morning and saw something which may be relevant is urged to contact BTP.
Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has opened a preliminary investigation.
Update: Spray cans have been found near where three people died after being struck by a train.
The incident occurred on tracks near Loughborough Junction station, south London, which is an area popular with graffiti artists.
British Transport Police (BTP) were called to the scene at 7.30am on Monday but rail industry sources told the Press Association the paint was found nearby and the three people may have been killed overnight, when freight trains operate.
Three people have sadly died after they were struck by a train near to Loughborough Junction in South London. We're working hard to understand how they came to receive their fatal injuries https://t.co/W7zy3SU1rB pic.twitter.com/q0RrbWs0js
— BTP (@BTP) June 18, 2018
Officers were seen taking photographs of graffiti as part of their inquiries.
The bodies were found on an elevated section of track with an electric third rail between Brixton and Denmark Hill.
BTP stated that they were hit by a train but was unable to confirm whether it was a freight or passenger service. There were no reports of any passenger trains being involved.
Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson 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 deaths 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.”
Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has opened a preliminary investigation.
Earlier: Three people killed after being struck by train in London
Three people have died after being struck by a train.
British Transport Police (BTP) were called to Loughborough Junction station, near Brixton in south London, at 7.30am on Monday.
They described the deaths as “unexplained”.
Pic: Google Maps.
Officers remain at the scene, where they are working to identify those killed and inform their families.
A “number of inquiries” are being carried out by BTP to establish how they came to be on the tracks.
Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson 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 deaths 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.”
- Press Association
