Eleven people were hospitalised, with one man still fighting for his life, after a stabbing spree on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday night.
Two men were originially arrested on suspiscion of attempted murder. Only one, a 32-year-old black, British national, is being treated as a suspect, according to British Transport Police. ‘A 35-year-old man from London who was also arrested at the scene has been released with no further action,’ police said. ‘It was reported in good faith to officers responding to the incident that he was involved in the attack, and following enquiries we can confirm that he was not involved.’
The stabbing took place on the 18.25 London North Eastern Railway service travelling from Doncaster to King’s Cross. Witnesses said that the incident began shortly after the train left Peterborough at 19.30. Police said the suspect boarded the train at Peterborough.
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 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. Only one is now in a life-threatening position. This is a member of LNER staff who was on the train and tried to stop the attacker. His actions were described by police as ‘nothing short of heroic’ and he ‘undoubtedly saved many people’s lives.’
At 19.42 last night the police received the first calls about the attack. Within minutes of being told about the attack the train driver, a veteran of the Royal Navy and Iraq war, made the decision to divert the train to Huntingdon station to allow emergency services to quickly respond. Armed officers from Cambridgeshire police then boarded the train. Within eight minutes of the first 999 call being made, two men were brought into police custody. Police reportedly tasered a 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.’
