Two people are currently fighting for their lives after a stabbing spree on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday night.
Two men have been arrested on suspiscion of attempted murder. One is a 32-year-old black, British national. The other is a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent. Both were born in the UK, according to British Transport Police. The two men are currently being held in separate police stations for questioning.
The incident took place on the 18.25 London North Eastern Railway service travelling from Doncaster to King’s Cross. Witnesses said that the stabbing began shortly after the train left Peterborough at 19.30.
There are reports of people hiding in the train toilets to escape, with ‘blood everywhere’, and people being stamped on as they tried to escape. One man told Sky News that he saw a victim moving down the train saying: ‘They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed.’ They added that the man was ‘extremely bloodied’ and on the floor by the time the train stopped. ‘They were taken to an ambulance pretty much straight away.’ One witness, Olly Foster, told the BBC that an older man was bleeding from the head and neck after he ‘blocked’ the attacker from stabbing a younger girl. The victims are currently being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Ten people were originally taken to the hospital by ambulance after the incident, and a further person self-presented later that evening. Nine were originally believed to have life-threatening injuries, but four have since been discharged from hospital. Two remain in a life-threatening position.
At 19.42 last night the police received the first calls about the incident. The train then made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, around 15 minutes from Peterborough, where armed officers from Cambridgeshire police and emergency workers boarded the train. Within eight minutes of the first 999 call being made, two men were brought into police custody. Police reportedly tasered one man carrying a large knife on the train platform.
At one point operation ‘Plato’ was declared – the code word used by police and emergency services for responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’. This was later rescinded. Police declared a ‘major incident’ with counter-terrorism officers investigating to establish a motive. But according to British Transport Police, at this stage there is ‘nothing to suggest’ this is a terrorist inccident.
The Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK threat level remains unchanged and ‘the early assessment is that this was an isolated incident, an isolated attack.’ The Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said there would be a ‘high visibility presence’ of police at railway stations and on trains on Sunday in order ‘to reassure the public’.
In a statement on X, the Prime Minister, said: ‘The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.’
The King said he and the Queen were ‘truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack that took place on board a train in Cambridgeshire last night. Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings in Huntingdon. My thoughts go out to all those affected. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody. I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.’
Nigel Farage released a statement, saying: ‘The attack last night in [Huntingdon] was horrific. My thoughts are with all the victims and their families. We need to know who committed these awful attacks as soon as possible.’
Kemi Badenoch said: ‘This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected including the emergency responders at the scene.’
