In a disturbing incident aboard a London train, a group of teenagers ignited a chaotic brawl when a middle-aged passenger requested them to cease vaping. This altercation has surfaced amid growing criticism directed at Mayor Sadiq Khan for purportedly not taking adequate action against rising crime rates.

Captured on video, the scene unfolded on the Elizabeth line as commuters found themselves trapped in a tense situation within a tunnel. The conflict eventually spilled onto the platform at Stratford, escalating the tension further.

The confrontation began when a teenage girl, sporting a baseball cap, blatantly disregarded a fellow passenger’s plea to stop vaping. Instead, she defiantly blew smoke in his direction, provoking further conflict.

As tensions rose, the man urged, “Don’t smoke in the middle of the train,” only to be met with a defiant retort as the girl told him to “f*** off.” Verbal exchanges ensued, with the situation intensifying as she seemingly spit at him.

Her companions quickly joined in, hurling insults at the man while still aboard the train. The altercation then continued on the platform, where the group unleashed a barrage of verbal abuse.

On the platform, the girl was restrained by her friends, yet the scene remained volatile as others in the group continued their tirade with insults and offensive gestures, adding to the already charged atmosphere.

Crime on the London Underground network is increasing under Mayor Sir Sadiq – with more incidents of violence, public disorder and a huge rise in vandalism.

Some 12,951 offences on the Tube were recorded between July and December 2025 – an increase of 2.7 per cent from 12,606 in the same period in 2024.

A vaping girl ignores the man’s request for her to stop and instead exhales smoke towards him

After the man says to her ‘don’t smoke in the middle of the train’, she tells him to ‘f*** off’

The girl is held back by her friends on the platform at Stratford station in east London

This included a 152 per cent rise in offences of criminal damage, up from 947 to 2,390 incidents amid an ongoing graffiti epidemic on the Underground.

Some 24,565 offences were recorded across all Transport for London (TfL) services in July and December 2025 – up 57 on the 24,508 in the same period in 2024.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of a video showing an altercation on a train. Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information should text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 134 of March 20.’

Smoking is prohibited on TfL trains and stations, and carries potential fines of up to £1,000. It has been banned since the King’s Cross fire in 1987 that killed 31 people.

The exact time of the incident is not yet known, but a TfL spokesperson told the Daily Mail today: ‘We prohibit smoking and vaping across all of our services and premises. 

‘Everyone has the right to travel safely and we encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a crime or antisocial behaviour on the Tube or on our rail services to report it to the British Transport Police by texting 61016.’

Other incidents on TfL services to have shocked Londoners in recent months have included a three-man knife fight at Colliers Wood station last December.

Another video emerged last July of a brawl breaking out of Highbury and Islington station – with a screaming toddler ending up on the floor in the melee.

The fight on the steps at rush hour saw screaming members of the public attempt to intervene when the group appeared to hurl a man down the stairs. 

A further notable incident last August saw a man expose himself in front of children on a busy eastbound District line train travelling through east London.

Three passengers tackled the man, who had mental health issues, to the ground of the train before they threw him off onto the platforms at East Ham station.

Sir Sadiq has faced significant criticism over crime rates in what some have dubbed ‘lawless London’, with a huge surge in knife offences during his time as Mayor.

Analysis published in July last year by the Policy Exchange think tank showed knife crime had soared by 86 per cent in London in a decade.

But in August, Sir Sadiq hailed figures from City Hall showing a fall in some serious offences including knife crime over the period from April and June 2025.

This was then criticised by Reform UK Assembly Member Alex Wilson, who said: ‘If Sadiq Khan thinks London is getting more safe, he needs to get out more.’