Courageous Rail Staff Member Receives Severe Wounds During Mass Knife Incident on Express Train
A valiant railway employee who intervened to save passengers during a multiple stabbing attack on a express train has sustained life-threatening injuries, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Incident
CCTV video reportedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in the county. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied victims running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for interrogation. Authorities announced a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Emergency Reaction and Consequences
The incident on the weekend led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several people have since been released from hospital.
A witness filmed the individual brandishing a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he faced police on the platform. He was allegedly heard shouting, "Kill me, kill me."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the courageous member of train personnel whose relatives are being assisted by specialist personnel,” said a high-ranking law enforcement official.
Labor Response and Calls for Measures
Rail unions were quick to commend staff and call for more action. A union leader said he would be “requesting immediate meetings with authorities, rail employers and law enforcement to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, tools and robust procedures in place”.
A different union leader encouraged the train operator and government “to act quickly to examine safety, to support the impacted workers, and to make sure that no incident like this happens again”.
Driver Praised for Rapid Action
The train driver who stopped the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been commended by association officials for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“The driver didn’t halt the service in the center of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the first responders to access, but he carried on traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much waiting,” explained a union official.
Further Information
Police stated they received the first emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One observer described at first thinking if the event was a holiday joke, but soon understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Police have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to provide with any additional details.
Rail operations on the affected route are anticipated to experience disruption until Monday, with passengers recommended to postpone their travel where feasible.
Anyone with details that could help the investigation are encouraged to reach police by texting a designated number with a reference code.
