Heroic Train Employee Receives Life-Threatening Injuries Amid Multiple Knife Attack on Express Service
A courageous train staff member who stepped in to protect passengers during a mass stabbing attack on a express train has sustained critical wounds, police stated on Sunday.
Particulars of the Frightening Incident
CCTV video allegedly shows the staff member attempting to halt the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in the county. Bystanders described a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied passengers running through compartments.
The suspect, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. 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 resulted in 11 people being cared for in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Several individuals have now been discharged from medical care.
A witness filmed the suspect brandishing a large knife and being subdued with a Taser as he confronted officers on the station. He was allegedly heard shouting, "End my life, kill me."
“This awful event has created broad consequences. My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being supported by trained officers,” said a senior police official.
Union Response and Calls for Action
Rail associations were quick to commend staff and demand increased action. One labor leader stated he would be “seeking urgent discussions with authorities, rail employers and police to guarantee that we have the strongest available support, tools and effective procedures in place”.
Another union representative encouraged the train operator and authorities “to move quickly to examine security, to help the affected workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Operator Commended for Rapid Action
The train driver who stopped the train at Huntingdon was described as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been praised by union officials for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“He didn’t stop the train in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously challenging for the emergency services to access, but he carried on traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there,” explained a union official.
Further Details
Authorities stated they got the initial distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted at first thinking if the event was a holiday prank, but quickly realized from people's expressions that it was serious.
Police have confirmed there is no evidence to indicate the incident was a terrorist incident and have asked the public to come forward with any additional information.
Train services on the impacted route are anticipated to have disruption until the following day, with passengers recommended to defer their journeys where feasible.
Individuals with details that could help the inquiry are encouraged to contact authorities by sending a message a designated number with a reference code.