Two bailed over Tube train deaths

12 April 2012

Two young men arrested after two suspected graffiti artists were killed by a London Tube train have been released on bail.

A 19 and 21-year-old died after running into the path of an Underground train near Barking station in east London, moments after a gang was seen spraying graffiti.

Police said members of the gang fled after being shouted at by security staff who spotted members of the group vandalising trains. Officers, who believe there were four young people in the gang, arrested two men aged 23 and 25 following Friday night's tragedy.

British Transport Police said the men had now been bailed to a date in February after being held on suspicion of causing criminal damage. Officers launched an investigation after the westbound District Line train was involved in the collision at around 11pm.

They have been using CCTV pictures and witnesses to try to piece together what happened in the lead up to the tragedy.

Forensic officers have also been examining property found at the scene, about half a mile from Barking station. Police are awaiting formal identification of the dead men by a coroner before releasing their names.

Chief Superintendent Paul Crowther, of British Transport Police, said on that initial inquiries showed the gang had not been chased by the security guards.

He said: "Our inquiries so far have indicated that the security guards were some distance away from them and the group of people ran away. What happened to cause that is part of our inquiries but I am confident to say there is no suggestion that they were being chased."

Mr Crowther said security measures across London had helped cut the amount of graffiti on trains and railway property.

But he said the tragedy was a reminder that spraying graffiti on railway property was a "dangerous pastime".

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