Brave Rail Staff Member Suffers Critical Injuries During Mass Stabbing Attack on High-Speed Service
A brave train staff member who stepped in to save travelers during a mass knife attack on a high-speed train has sustained critical injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Incident
Surveillance footage reportedly shows the staff member trying to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train departed Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for questioning. Authorities declared a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
The event on the weekend led to 11 people being cared for in hospital after the train made an unplanned stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several individuals have now been released from medical care.
A witness recorded the individual waving a big knife and being subdued with a stun device as he confronted police on the platform. He was reportedly heard shouting, "End my life, kill me."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – particularly the courageous employee of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers,” said a senior law enforcement official.
Labor Response and Calls for Action
Rail unions were swift to praise staff and demand more measures. A labor official stated he would be “seeking urgent discussions with government, rail employers and law enforcement to ensure that we have the best available assistance, tools and robust protocols in place”.
Another union leader encouraged the rail company and government “to move swiftly to review safety, to help the affected employees, and to make sure nothing like this happens again”.
Driver Praised for Quick Thinking
The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by association representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“He did not halt the service in the center of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the first responders to access, but he continued going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost waiting,” explained a association representative.
Additional Information
Police said they received the first emergency reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted at first thinking if the event was a holiday prank, but quickly understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Police have confirmed there is nothing to indicate the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to provide with any further details.
Rail operations on the impacted route are expected to have disruption until the following day, with passengers recommended to postpone their travel where possible.
Individuals with information that could assist the investigation are asked to contact police by texting a specific number with a reference code.
