A knife attack on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train travelling from Doncaster to London on Saturday night has left ten people injured, nine of them in critical condition.
The incident occurred shortly after 19:30 GMT as the train passed through Cambridgeshire, prompting a major emergency response.
Police received distress calls from passengers reporting a man armed with a knife attacking travellers on board.
The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, about 15 minutes south of Peterborough, where armed officers stormed the carriages and arrested two suspects. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as passengers fled through the aisles or barricaded themselves in toilets.
Emergency crews, including air ambulances, transported victims to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. British Transport Police declared a major incident and said counter-terrorism officers were assisting the investigation, though the motive remains unclear. At one stage, police invoked “Plato,” the national protocol for a suspected marauding terror attack, but later stood it down.
Passengers recounted the horror of the attack, with some attempting to stop the bleeding of victims using clothing. “People were screaming and running. I saw a man covered in blood trying to help a young girl,” one eyewitness said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “appalling” and expressed gratitude to emergency responders. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch both urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation continues.
Huntingdon Station and the surrounding area remain closed as forensic teams examine the scene. LNER has advised passengers to avoid travel on Sunday, with widespread cancellations across the East Coast Mainline and connecting services expected to persist into the week.
