🔗 Share this article

A brave train employee who intervened to save passengers during a multiple knife incident on a express train has sustained life-threatening injuries, police stated on Sunday.

Details of the Frightening Event

CCTV footage reportedly shows the employee attempting to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through compartments.

The suspect, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in detention for interrogation. Police declared a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.

Emergency Response and Consequences

The incident on the weekend resulted in 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several individuals have now been released from hospital.

A witness recorded the suspect brandishing a big knife and being shot with a stun device as he confronted officers on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "End my life, 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 – especially the brave member of train personnel whose relatives are being supported by trained personnel,” stated a senior law enforcement officer.

Union Response and Appeals for Action

Train associations were swift to commend employees and call for more action. A union official stated he would be “seeking immediate meetings with government, train companies and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the strongest possible support, tools and robust protocols in operation”.

A different association representative urged the train operator and authorities “to act swiftly to examine security, to help the impacted employees, and to make sure nothing like this occurs again”.

Driver Commended for Rapid Thinking

The train driver who halted the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been praised by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.

“He did not stop the service in the center of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to access, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much waiting,” stated a union official.

Additional Details

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

An witness recounted initially thinking if the situation was a Halloween prank, but soon understood from people's faces that it was real.

Authorities have stated there is no evidence to indicate the event was a terror-related incident and have requested the community to come forward with any additional information.

Train services on the affected line are expected to experience disruption until the following day, with passengers recommended to defer their travel where feasible.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation are encouraged to contact police by texting a designated number with a reference code.