Brave Train Employee Suffers Life-Threatening Wounds During Multiple Stabbing Incident on Express Service
A courageous train staff member who intervened to save passengers during a multiple knife incident on a high-speed train has suffered life-threatening injuries, police stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Event
Surveillance video reportedly depicts the employee attempting to halt the attacker as the train traveled between Peterborough and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders described a frightening 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through compartments.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Authorities declared a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Emergency Response and Consequences
The incident on Saturday night led to 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unplanned stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several people have since been released from hospital.
A bystander recorded the individual waving a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he faced police on the station. He was allegedly heard shouting, "Kill me, end my life."
“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 brave member of train personnel whose relatives are being assisted by trained personnel,” said a senior police officer.
Union Response and Appeals for Measures
Train associations were quick to commend employees and demand increased action. One labor leader said he would be “requesting immediate meetings with government, train companies and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the best available assistance, resources and effective procedures in operation”.
A different association representative encouraged the train operator and government “to act quickly to examine safety, to help the impacted employees, and to make sure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Driver Commended for Quick Thinking
The operator who halted the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“He didn’t stop the train in the center of two stations where it’s clearly difficult for the emergency services to reach, but he continued going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was almost already there,” explained a union representative.
Further Information
Police said they got the initial emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness described initially wondering if the situation was a Halloween joke, but quickly understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Authorities have confirmed there is nothing to indicate the event was a terror-related incident and have asked the public to come forward with any further information.
Rail operations on the impacted route are expected to have disruption until the following day, with passengers recommended to defer their travel where feasible.
Individuals with details that could help the inquiry are encouraged to contact police by texting a designated number with a reference code.