🔗 Share this article

A courageous railway employee who stepped in to save travelers during a multiple knife attack on a high-speed train has suffered life-threatening injuries, police stated on Sunday.

Details of the Terrifying Incident

CCTV footage allegedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in the county. Witnesses described a frightening 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through carriages.

The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Police declared a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.

Crisis Response and Consequences

The incident on Saturday night led to 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Several people have now been discharged from hospital.

A bystander filmed the individual brandishing a big knife and being shot with a Taser as he faced police on the station. He was reportedly heard shouting, "Kill me, end my life."

“This awful event has created broad consequences. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – particularly the brave employee of train personnel whose family are being assisted by trained officers,” said a senior police official.

Labor Response and Calls for Action

Train unions were swift to praise staff and demand more action. One labor official stated he would be “requesting urgent meetings with authorities, rail employers and law enforcement to ensure that we have the strongest available support, resources and effective procedures in operation”.

A different association representative urged the train operator and authorities “to move quickly to examine security, to help the impacted workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.

Operator Commended for Rapid Thinking

The train driver who halted the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been commended by union officials for doing “precisely what was needed”.

“He didn’t stop the train in the center of two stops where it’s obviously challenging for the first responders to access, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much waiting,” explained a union representative.

Further Details

Police said they got the initial distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.

One observer recounted initially thinking if the event was a holiday joke, but soon realized from individuals' faces that it was serious.

Police have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to come forward with any further details.

Train services on the impacted line are expected to have delays until the following day, with travelers recommended to defer their travel where feasible.

Individuals with information that could assist the inquiry are encouraged to contact authorities by sending a message a specific number with a case code.