Courageous Train Employee Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries Amid Mass Knife Incident on Express Train
A courageous railway employee who stepped in to save travelers during a multiple stabbing attack on a high-speed train has sustained life-threatening injuries, police stated on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Event
Surveillance video allegedly shows the employee trying to halt the assailant as the train traveled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train departed Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in custody for interrogation. Police declared a significant incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Response and Consequences
The event on Saturday night resulted in 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been discharged from hospital.
A bystander recorded the individual brandishing a big knife and being subdued with a stun device as he confronted officers on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "Kill me, 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 relatives are being assisted by specialist officers,” said a senior police officer.
Union Response and Appeals for Action
Rail unions were swift to commend employees and demand more action. One labor leader stated he would be “requesting immediate meetings with government, train companies and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the strongest available support, tools and effective protocols in operation”.
A different association leader urged the train operator and authorities “to move quickly to examine security, to support the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Operator Praised for Quick Thinking
The operator who halted the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been praised by association representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“He didn’t halt the service in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously challenging for the first responders to reach, but he continued traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much waiting,” explained a union representative.
Additional Details
Authorities stated they got the initial emergency reports at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An witness described at first wondering if the situation was a holiday joke, but quickly understood from individuals' faces that it was real.
Police have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have asked the public to provide with any additional details.
Rail operations on the impacted route are anticipated to experience disruption until the following day, with travelers recommended to defer their journeys where possible.
Anyone with details that could help the investigation are asked to contact police by sending a message a designated number with a case code.