Newsroom
Nine people were left with life-threatening injuries after a stabbing rampage on a London-bound train Saturday evening, prompting armed police to halt the train near Cambridge and arrest two men.
The attack occurred yesterday aboard the 6:25 p.m. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to King’s Cross, shortly after it departed Peterborough. Passengers described scenes of chaos as a man moved through carriages attacking riders with a knife. Witnesses reported victims “extremely bloodied,” with several collapsing before emergency crews arrived.
Police declared a “major incident” and briefly activated “Plato,” the national protocol for a potential marauding terror attack, though the alert was later withdrawn. British Transport Police said counterterrorism officers were assisting “to establish the full circumstances and motivation,” but officials cautioned against speculation.
“Urgent inquiries are under way,” said Chief Superintendent Chris Casey of the BTP. “It could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.”
The train was stopped at Huntingdon station, where armed officers boarded and detained two men. Video and eyewitness accounts showed police confronting a man with a large knife before subduing him with a Taser.
The East of England Ambulance Service dispatched a “large-scale response,” including multiple ambulances and hazardous-area teams. Victims were transported to hospitals across the region.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “deeply concerning,” praising first responders and urging the public to follow police guidance. Defence Secretary John Healey said the initial assessment suggested an “isolated attack,” adding, “there’s no reason for the rest of us not to get on with our lives.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the public to “avoid comment and speculation,” while Huntingdon’s MP, Ben Obese-Jecty, described the emergency response as “unprecedented.”
LNER and National Rail warned of “major disruption” across the East Coast Main Line, with Huntingdon station closed and travel suspended through Sunday.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, citing incident number 495 of Nov. 1.
With information from The Guardian.
