UK police arrest two suspects after mass stabbing on London-bound train leaves ten people hospitalised, nine with life-threatening injuries.
HUNTINGDON: UK police have arrested two suspects following a mass stabbing on a London-bound train that left ten people hospitalised, nine with likely life-threatening injuries.
Armed police supported by multiple emergency vehicles swarmed Huntingdon railway station in Cambridgeshire after the alarm was raised about the attack late Saturday.
British Transport Police confirmed ten people were taken to hospital and counter-terrorism units are supporting the investigation into the incident.
The train was operating from Doncaster in northeast England to London’s King’s Cross Station, a typically busy route filled with travellers.
One witness described seeing a man with a large knife and told The Times newspaper there was blood everywhere as passengers hid in washrooms.
Some passengers were reportedly stamped on by others as they tried to escape the violent scene.
Witnesses told Sky News they observed a man holding a large knife on the platform after the train halted at Huntingdon station.
They subsequently saw police taser and restrain the suspect on the platform.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as appalling and deeply concerning in a statement on social media platform X.
Starmer expressed his thoughts for all those affected and thanked emergency services for their rapid response.
The prime minister advised anyone in the area to follow police guidance while his interior minister confirmed two people were in custody.
Armed police were alerted around 7:40 pm local time shortly after the train had departed from Peterborough.
Police treated the stationary train as a crime scene while conducting their investigation late Saturday.
An AFP photographer observed people being led away from the station wrapped in space blankets for warmth.
The East of England Ambulance Service mobilised a large-scale response including ambulances, air ambulances and tactical commanders.
Train operator London North Eastern Railway confirmed railway lines were closed while emergency services managed the situation.
The railway company urged passengers not to travel due to major disruption with blocked lines in the area.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow said his thoughts and prayers were with everyone affected by the horrendous scenes.
The identity of the two arrested individuals and the motive for the attack remain unknown.
Knife crime in England and Wales has shown a steady increase since 2011 according to official government statistics.
Britain maintains some of the world’s strictest gun controls but faces significant challenges with knife crime described as a national crisis.
The current Labour government has implemented measures to reduce knife-related violence across the country.
Nearly 60,000 blades have been seized or surrendered in England and Wales as part of government efforts to halve knife crime within ten years.
Carrying a knife in public carries a potential prison sentence of up to four years under current legislation.
The government reported an 18% reduction in knife murders over the past year following these initiatives.
This incident follows an October stabbing spree at a Manchester synagogue that left two people dead and others wounded.
A man appeared in a London court on Thursday charged with murder after a daylight stabbing that killed one person and injured two others. – AFP
