Courageous Rail Staff Member Receives Severe Wounds During Multiple Stabbing Incident on High-Speed Service
A courageous railway staff member who intervened to protect travelers during a multiple knife attack on a express train has sustained critical wounds, police confirmed on Sunday.
Particulars of the Terrifying Incident
CCTV footage allegedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the attacker as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in the county. Witnesses recounted a frightening 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured passengers running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in detention for interrogation. Authorities declared a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Reaction and Aftermath
The incident on Saturday night led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several individuals have since been discharged from hospital.
A bystander filmed the suspect waving a big knife and being subdued with a Taser as he confronted police 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. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – especially the courageous employee of rail staff whose relatives are being assisted by trained personnel,” said a high-ranking law enforcement official.
Labor Response and Calls for Measures
Train unions were quick to commend employees and call for more action. One labor leader said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with government, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best possible assistance, tools and effective protocols in place”.
A different union leader urged the rail company and government “to move quickly to review security, to help the impacted workers, and to make sure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Driver Commended for Quick Action
The operator who halted the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by association officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“He didn’t halt the train in the center of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to reach, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much already there,” stated a union representative.
Further Information
Police stated they got the initial distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer described initially thinking if the event was a holiday prank, but soon understood from people's faces that it was real.
Authorities have confirmed there is nothing to indicate the event was a terrorist incident and have asked the community to provide with any additional details.
Rail services on the affected route are expected to experience delays until Monday, with travelers recommended to defer their travel where feasible.
Individuals with information that could assist the inquiry are asked to reach authorities by texting a specific number with a case code.
