The attack began soon after the train left Peterborough station, heading south, and passengers pulled the emergency alarm to alert the driver to the danger. The train was halted at Huntingdon, north-west of Cambridge and about 120 kilometres north of London, where police rushed to help passengers and stop the assailants.
“They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed,” one of the victims told other passengers during the mayhem, according to one witness who described the events to Sky News UK. This victim collapsed on the floor and was taken to an ambulance once the train came to a stop.
The witness described the victim as “extremely bloodied” from the knife attack. No explanation was given for the attack in any of the accounts in the immediate aftermath of the events.
“There were multiple people that had been stabbed who were making their way down [onto the station] but the suspect had also come off the train as well,” the witness said.
He added that he did not witness the attacks but saw some of the victims.
“The armed police were pointing to the suspect as he came off the train,” he said, adding that he was told the suspect was a male “in all black”.
Emergency personnel inspect the train at the Huntingdon following the attack.Credit: AP
The first suspect was detained and the second suspect was then halted by police with what appeared to be a taser, he said.
The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed it had mobilised a large-scale response at Huntingdon Station.
“We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital,” it said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern about the “appalling” incident.
Emergency personnel flocked to the station.Credit: AP
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,” he said.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud confirmed the arrests and cautioned against conjecture about the incident.
“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,” she said.
The train was heading from Doncaster to King’s Cross in London. The attack caused widespread disruption, halting transport on the busy rail lines on Saturday night.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she was deeply disturbed by the reports from Huntingdon.
“This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected including the emergency responders at the scene,” she said.
While authorities confirmed there were multiple stabbings, there was no statement on the number of victims. One witness estimated the number at about a dozen.
With Reuters, AP
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