🔗 Share this article

A valiant train employee who stepped in to protect passengers during a mass stabbing incident on a express train has suffered life-threatening injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.

Particulars of the Frightening Incident

CCTV footage reportedly shows the employee trying to halt the attacker as the train traveled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied victims fleeing through carriages.

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

Emergency Reaction and Consequences

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

A witness recorded the individual brandishing a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he confronted police on the platform. He was allegedly heard shouting, "End my life, kill me."

“This awful event has created broad consequences. We are thinking of the victims and their families – particularly the brave employee of rail staff whose relatives are being assisted by trained personnel,” stated a high-ranking police officer.

Union Reaction and Appeals for Measures

Rail associations were quick to praise employees and demand increased action. A union leader said he would be “seeking immediate meetings with authorities, rail employers and law enforcement to ensure that we have the best possible assistance, tools and effective protocols in place”.

Another union representative encouraged the rail company and government “to move swiftly to examine security, to support the affected workers, and to ensure nothing like this occurs again”.

Driver Praised for Quick Action

The operator who stopped the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by association representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.

“He did not halt the train in the center of two stops where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to reach, but he carried on going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was almost waiting,” explained a union official.

Additional Information

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

One observer described initially thinking if the event was a holiday joke, but quickly realized from people's expressions that it was real.

Police have confirmed there is no evidence to indicate the incident was a terror-related attack and have asked the public to provide with any further information.

Train operations on the impacted route are anticipated to have delays until Monday, with travelers advised to postpone their journeys where possible.

Individuals with information that could assist the investigation are asked to reach authorities by texting a designated number with a case code.