A brave train employee who intervened to protect travelers during a mass stabbing attack on a high-speed train has sustained critical injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.
CCTV footage reportedly shows the employee trying to halt the attacker as the train traveled between a city and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a frightening 14-minute duration after the train departed Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for questioning. Police declared a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
The incident on the weekend resulted in 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been released from hospital.
A witness filmed the individual waving a large knife and being shot with a Taser as he confronted officers on the station. He was allegedly heard shouting, "End my life, kill me."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – particularly the courageous member of train personnel whose family are being supported by specialist personnel,” said a high-ranking police official.
Train associations were quick to praise staff and call for increased action. One union official said he would be “requesting immediate discussions with authorities, train companies and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the strongest available assistance, tools and effective protocols in operation”.
A different union leader urged the train operator and government “to move swiftly to review security, to support the impacted employees, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.
The operator who halted the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver didn’t halt the train in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously challenging for the first responders to access, but he continued going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there,” explained a union official.
Authorities stated they received the initial emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the train was compelled to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An witness described at first thinking if the event was a holiday prank, but quickly realized from individuals' faces that it was real.
Authorities have stated there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to provide with any further details.
Train operations on the affected route are anticipated to have disruption until the following day, with passengers recommended to postpone their journeys where feasible.
Anyone with details that could assist the investigation are encouraged to contact police by sending a message a specific number with a reference code.
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