Brave Train Employee Suffers Severe Wounds During Multiple Knife Incident on Express Service
A brave railway staff member who intervened to save travelers during a multiple stabbing attack on a express train has sustained critical injuries, authorities stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Incident
CCTV video allegedly shows the staff member attempting to halt the assailant as the train traveled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses recounted a frightening 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured victims running through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for questioning. Authorities declared a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Response and Consequences
The event on the weekend resulted in 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Several people have now been discharged from medical care.
A bystander recorded the individual waving a large knife and being shot with a Taser as he confronted police on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "End my life, kill me."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – especially the courageous member of rail staff whose relatives are being supported by trained officers,” said a senior police official.
Labor Response and Calls for Action
Rail unions were quick to commend employees and call for more action. A labor official stated he would be “seeking urgent meetings with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the best available assistance, tools and effective protocols in place”.
A different association leader urged the train operator and authorities “to act swiftly to review security, to support the affected workers, and to ensure nothing like this happens again”.
Driver Praised for Quick Thinking
The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been praised by union officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver did not stop the train in the middle of two stops where it’s obviously difficult for the emergency services to access, but he continued traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost already there,” stated a association official.
Additional Details
Police said 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 observer recounted initially wondering if the event was a holiday prank, but soon understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Authorities have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to come forward with any further information.
Train services on the affected line are expected to have delays until the following day, with travelers recommended to postpone their journeys where possible.
Individuals with information that could assist the investigation are asked to reach authorities by sending a message a specific number with a case code.
