🔗 Share this article

A brave railway staff member who stepped in to protect passengers during a multiple knife incident on a express train has suffered life-threatening injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.

Particulars of the Frightening Event

Surveillance footage reportedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the attacker as the train journeyed between a city and another station in the county. Bystanders recounted a frightening 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured passengers running through carriages.

The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in detention for interrogation. Authorities declared a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.

Crisis Reaction and Aftermath

The event on the weekend led to 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several individuals have since been discharged from medical care.

A bystander filmed the suspect brandishing a big knife and being subdued with a stun device as he faced police on the station. He was reportedly heard yelling, "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 employee of train personnel whose family are being assisted by specialist officers,” stated a senior law enforcement officer.

Labor Reaction and Appeals for Measures

Rail unions were swift to praise staff and demand increased action. One union official stated he would be “requesting immediate meetings with government, train companies and law enforcement to ensure that we have the best available support, resources and robust procedures in place”.

A different association representative encouraged the train operator and authorities “to move swiftly to review security, to help the affected employees, and to make sure that no incident like this happens again”.

Driver Praised for Rapid Action

The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been praised by union officials for doing “precisely what was needed”.

“The driver didn’t stop the service in the middle of two stops where it’s obviously challenging for the emergency services to reach, but he continued traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much already there,” stated a association representative.

Additional Details

Police stated they got the first distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the service was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.

One observer recounted initially wondering if the situation was a Halloween prank, but soon realized from people's faces that it was serious.

Authorities have confirmed there is no evidence to indicate the event was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to come forward with any additional information.

Train services on the affected route are expected to experience disruption until the following day, with travelers advised to postpone their journeys where feasible.

Individuals with details that could help the investigation are encouraged to reach police by texting a designated number with a case code.