Courageous Train Staff Member Receives Critical Injuries Amid Multiple Stabbing Attack on High-Speed Train
A brave train employee who stepped in to protect travelers during a multiple stabbing attack on a express train has sustained critical injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Event
Surveillance footage reportedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the attacker as the train traveled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders described a frightening 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in custody for interrogation. Authorities announced a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Response and Aftermath
The event on the weekend resulted in 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five people have since been released from hospital.
A witness filmed the suspect brandishing a large knife and being shot with a Taser as he faced 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 courageous employee of rail staff whose family are being assisted by specialist personnel,” stated a senior police official.
Labor Response and Calls for Action
Rail unions were quick to praise employees and call for more measures. A union official stated he would be “requesting immediate discussions with authorities, rail employers and police to guarantee that we have the best possible support, resources and robust procedures in place”.
A different association leader encouraged the rail company and authorities “to move quickly to review security, to support the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Driver Praised for Quick Thinking
The train driver who stopped the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver didn’t halt the service in the middle of two stops where it’s obviously difficult for the first responders to access, but he carried on traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost waiting,” explained a union official.
Additional Information
Police said they received the first emergency reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted initially wondering if the situation was a Halloween joke, but soon understood from individuals' faces that it was serious.
Police have confirmed there is nothing to indicate the event was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to provide with any additional information.
Train services on the impacted line are anticipated to have disruption until the following day, with passengers advised to defer their travel where feasible.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation are encouraged to contact police by texting a specific number with a reference code.