Bethnal Green Station Disaster Spirits
The site of Britain's worst civilian disaster during WWII, where 173 people were crushed to death in a stairwell panic, is now haunted by the victims' restless spirits.
On March 3, 1943, Bethnal Green Station became the site of Britain’s worst civilian disaster of World War II when 173 people, including 62 children, were crushed to death in a devastating crush on the entrance stairway. The tragedy occurred when a panicked crowd rushed into the station seeking shelter from what they believed was an air raid, triggered by the unfamiliar sound of a new anti-aircraft rocket battery being tested nearby. A woman tripped near the bottom of the stairs, and within seconds, hundreds of people piled on top of each other in the narrow stairwell.
Since that terrible night, numerous witnesses have reported paranormal activity at Bethnal Green Station. Staff members and late-night travelers describe hearing the sounds of children crying and screaming, particularly near the entrance stairs where the disaster occurred. Some have reported seeing ghostly figures of children and adults huddled together on the platforms or in the stairwells, appearing confused and frightened before fading away. The sounds of a stampeding crowd and desperate cries for help have been heard echoing through the station when it is empty.
Station employees have reported an oppressive atmosphere in certain areas, particularly during the anniversary of the disaster in early March. Some witnesses describe feeling sudden panic or difficulty breathing when descending the main staircase, experiencing emotions that may echo the terror felt by the victims. A memorial plaque was finally erected in 2013 to commemorate the tragedy, seventy years after the event, but reports of paranormal activity continue. Many believe the spirits remain because the disaster was hushed up by the government during wartime and the victims were denied proper recognition for decades.