Looters raid storm-damaged Lidl store in Dublin before thugs ‘rip off roof with a digger’ as snow and ice spark chaos

LOOTERS cleared the shelves at a storm-damaged Lidl supermarket before a crime gang ripped its roof off with a digger.

Video footage posted on social media shows youths fleeing the popular discount giant in Citywest, Dublin, loaded down with stolen booze and food.

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The drama came as thousands found themselves stranded miles from home tonight as transport networks ground to a sudden halt during the ice storms - which have so far left 16 people dead.

Armed police and soldiers were called to the looting scene after a digger was used to get to the store's safe and nine people were arrested.

The supermarket - which was cut off to traffic by snow  -  was closed at the time and local crooks had taken advantage of the fact to force their way in.

Eight men aged between 24 and 47 years were due to appear in court today charged with theft, burglary and trespassing offences.

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Local Labour councillor Mick Duff said he was outraged by the group’s actions, describing the incident as “gangsterism”.

He told the Irish Sun: “At a time when our emergency services and public services are stretched to the limit that people would exploit a situation like that to do this.

“There’s no need here, this is just pure gangsterism. It literally brings shame to the area.”

Earlier commuters in London risked their lives when they jumped off stranded trains and walked alongside live rail lines after being trapped for hours.

Dozens of travellers jumped off Southeastern trains stuck between St Johns and Lewisham after pressing emergency buttons to open the doors.

Network Rail said it had to urgently turn off the track's power supplies to "stop the passengers from being killed."

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The rebel commuters later claimed they had been stuck in packed carriages with overflowing  toilets, no heating or lighting for more than three hours.

Some of those on board had started to get "hysterical" say passengers while others were panicking as they needed to get home to take medication.

Some even said that customers were forced to urinate into cups due to overflowing toilets.

Emergency services rushed to the scene to attempt to round up trespassers and rail companies issued warnings over safety and further delays.

Power was switched off on trains because of the incident and the police and fire service were brought in to help get people off trains.

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Southeastern tweeted: "We know it's difficult and really unpleasant on board the trains but you're safer remaining on board."

One woman wrote: "Been on a train trying to get home for 3 hours now. 2 1/2 hours spent between #Lewisham and #Blackheath with hordes of ppl having jumped off @Se_Railway what exactly are you doing?

"You’ve been saying you’re about to turn the power back on for about an hour now."

Another said: "Three-and-a-half hours now. No toilet, heating, lights. #TRAINMAGEDDON."

British Transport Police said it had "deployed all available officers and emergency response teams" to evacuate passengers.

They added: "Whilst we understand peoples concerns & frustration, please, please remain on the trains.

"We are working with rail staff to evacuate passengers from a number of services along the line but please be assured we will get to you as soon as we are physically able to #Lewisham"

Other commuter called for the "idiots" who had jumped onto the tracks to have their season tickets taken away.

Many commuters were forced to book into hotels or crash with friends as three of the south's major rail firms warned people not to travel.

Enormous crowds crammed onto concourses at Waterloo and Victoria, two of the capital's busiest stations, as they tried to make their way home.

Some incoming rail passengers said they had been travelling for up to seven hours as icy rails caused by the sub-zero temperatures sparked train cancellations, delays and breakdowns.

On the Underground, the Bakerloo, Jubilee, London Overground and Metroplitan lines were part suspended with delays.

To make things worse for those looking to escape the capital, a fire alarm caused London's Euston Station to be evacuated in the middle of rush hour.

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Several rail networks  told people they should not travel on their routes after Storm Emma and the Beast from the East collided - including Southeastern, South Western and ScotRail.

Just after 4.30pm all routes through Birmingham New Street stations were suspended, due to a loss of power.

Two police forces declared "major incidents" in response to the widespread disruption, turning to the military for help with rescues and to provide assistance to hospitals and medics.

Public Health England (PHE) urged people to plan ahead to ensure they have enough food and medicine.

What has happened so far during Storm Emma:

• Thousands of commuters were left stranded at rail stations across the country
• Looters targeted a storm-damaged Lidl store in Dublin - even ripping its roof off to get to the safe
• Cops launched a hunt for a teen last seen wandering around Manchester city centre at 5am in sub-zero temperatures
• Fifteen people including a seven-year-old girl have now died in the wintry conditions
• Some rail passengers jumped onto the tracks after their train became stranded in Lewisham
• A completely frozen car was pictured in north London after a water pipe burst and an incredible video of a man jumping onto a snow-covered trampoline went viral
• The military was pulled in to help clear traffic after hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on Britain's roads 
• In a bizarre phenomenon freezing rain was pictured turning the nation's roads into ice rinks
• More than 40 cars were involved in a pile-up on the A38 in Devon
• A number of councils and police forces declared major incidents in the freezing conditions
• Motorists were evacuated from the Isle of Wight by helicopter as the roads became too dangerous to use
• Football matches were 
• At least 9,000 were left without electricity in the north of the country as power supplies suffer in the chill
• Hundreds of flights in and out of UK and Irish airports were cancelled
• A heroic bus driver managed to avoid disaster by swerving her bus around an out of control car on the snow 
• Travellers were forced to huddle under blankets and makeshift shelters on stranded trains, cars and at airports
• Many Brits have seen non-urgent ops postponed due to staff shortages and a lack of beds in some hospitals, as NHS bosses warn of the 'perfect storm' of the storm, norovirus and flu

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