Two people were arrested after a stabbing incident broke out on a train to Huntingdon, Cambridge, injuring several passengers. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said armed police attended the incident after officers were called at the Huntingdon station at 7:39 pm (local time) on Saturday.
Soon after the incident, the East of England ambulance service released a statement stating that they had deployed a “large-scale response” team to deal with the wounded. A spokesperson said numerous ambulances, tactical commanders and the hazardous area response team were at the scene, adding: “We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to the hospital.”
One witness who was on the train told Sky News that someone moved through the carriage, warning others: “They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed.” The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the man was “extremely bloodied” and that by the time the train stopped, they were “basically on the floor.” “That person ended up collapsing on the floor. They were taken to an ambulance pretty much straight away,” he said.
Witnesses also maintained that other people wounded by the attacker were seen sprinting through the train away from somebody with a knife. Later on, armed police were spotted at the site, directing their weapons at a man standing on a platform with a large blade, a witness said. The man was then incapacitated with a taser and restrained.
PM Starmer condemns the incident
While speaking to the reporters, police said that the attack happened on the 6:25 pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross, shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station. UK PM Keir Starmer released a statement stating that it was “deeply concerning” and urged people to follow police advice.
“The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police,” the prime minister said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Meanwhile, the MP for Huntingdon, Ben Obese-Jecty, said: “Very reassuring to see such a quick and effective response from the emergency services.” “I’ve simply never seen as big a response to an emergency incident as there was in terms of police, fire and ambulance,” he added.
In a post on X, British Transport Police wrote: “We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed. Officers are in attendance alongside CambsCops, and two people have been arrested.” UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also expressed condemnation.