British authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train that left 10 people injured, including nine in critical condition, with two suspects arrested.
The violent incident occurred on Saturday evening aboard a train travelling from Doncaster in northern England to London King’s Cross Station, prompting an emergency stop at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire, police confirmed.
In a statement on Sunday, British Transport Police (BTP) said that emergency teams responded swiftly to the scene and that the victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“Ten people were taken to hospital, nine of whom are believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries,” the police said. Two suspects were arrested at the station. Counter-terrorism officers are assisting with the investigation.”
Forensic officers at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire after a mass stabbing incident on a London-bound train. Photo Credit: BBC
Authorities said the suspects’ identities and motives remain under investigation as forensic teams worked through the night at the station.
Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic and horrifying scene. Olly Foster, a passenger on the train, told the BBC that he initially thought the commotion was part of a Halloween prank until he heard people screaming.
“People were shouting, ‘Run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone!’” Foster recalled. “It was chaos. My hand was covered in blood from a seat I was leaning on. I saw an older man trying to protect a young girl. It felt like forever, but it all happened in minutes.”
Another witness told Sky News they saw a man wielding a large knife on the platform after the train stopped. Police officers reportedly used a taser to subdue and arrest him.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “appalling and deeply concerning” saying his thoughts were with the victims and their families.
Train operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER) advised passengers to avoid travel on Sunday, warning that some services could be cancelled or delayed as the investigation continues.
Police have urged witnesses or anyone with video footage to come forward as they work to determine the motive behind what is being described as one of the most violent public transport attacks in recent years.
