🔗 Share this article

A courageous train staff member who stepped in to protect passengers during a multiple stabbing incident on a express train has sustained critical injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.

Details of the Terrifying Event

Surveillance footage allegedly shows the staff member trying to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through compartments.

The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for interrogation. Authorities announced a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.

Crisis Reaction and Aftermath

The event on the weekend led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several people have now been discharged from hospital.

A bystander recorded the suspect waving a large knife and being shot with a Taser as he confronted officers on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "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 rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist personnel,” said a senior police officer.

Union Response and Appeals for Measures

Rail associations were swift to praise employees and demand increased measures. A labor leader said he would be “seeking immediate discussions with government, rail employers and police to guarantee that we have the best possible support, resources and effective procedures in operation”.

A different union representative encouraged the train operator and government “to act swiftly to examine safety, to support the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.

Operator Praised for Quick Action

The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was described as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.

“The driver did not halt the service in the middle of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to access, but he continued going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much waiting,” stated a association representative.

Further Details

Police said they received the first distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the service was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.

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

Police have confirmed there is nothing to indicate the event was a terror-related attack and have asked the community to provide with any additional details.

Train operations on the impacted route are anticipated to experience disruption until the following day, with travelers recommended to defer their journeys where feasible.

Individuals with details that could assist the inquiry are asked to reach authorities by texting a designated number with a reference code.