Armed police evacuated one of the UK's busiest rail stations, London Bridge, during rush hour after a man allegedly made threats of having a bomb in his case.

The resulting incident caused chaos across services into south east London and Kent.

British Transport Police (BTP) attended London Bridge station after they were alerted to the incident at 6.20pm on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

A spokeswoman for the force said that a 45-year-old man had been arrested at the scene and taken into custody.

All lines at the station later reopened following the security incident.

The BTP spokeswoman said: “The man had been travelling on the 16.58 Cannon Street service into the station, when he pulled the emergency cord and claimed to be in possession of an explosive device.

“BTP firearms officers attended and the train and the platform at London Bridge station were evacuated and a cordon was put in place.

“A 45-year old man was arrested by officers on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and obstructing the railway, he was taken into police custody. The man was in possession of a black case which was forensically examined and deemed as safe."

Transport for London said that Tube services to and from London Bridge had remained unaffected despite the incident at the rail station.

Some commuters who had witnessed the scene remarked that it had come on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Others tweeted pictures of police deploying along the platforms at the station.

Kate Allen said: "Four armed response police with big guns just ran past me at London Bridge station. Incident platforms one to six."

Ronnie Joyce tweeted: "Eek, there's a guy at London Bridge station making threats.. they've evacuated the station... police swarming. Be safe, kids!"