Brave Train Staff Member Suffers Life-Threatening Wounds During Mass Stabbing Incident on High-Speed Service
A brave train staff member who intervened to save passengers during a mass knife attack on a high-speed train has suffered critical injuries, authorities stated on Sunday.
Particulars of the Frightening Event
Surveillance footage allegedly shows the staff member attempting to halt the assailant as the train journeyed between a city and Huntingdon in the county. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in custody for questioning. Police announced a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Emergency Response and Consequences
The incident on Saturday night resulted in 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several people have now been discharged from medical care.
A bystander recorded the suspect brandishing a big knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced police on the platform. He was reportedly heard shouting, "Kill me, kill me."
“This awful event has created broad consequences. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the courageous employee of rail staff whose family are being assisted by trained personnel,” stated a senior police official.
Labor Reaction and Appeals for Action
Rail unions were swift to praise staff and call for more action. One labor official stated he would be “seeking immediate meetings with government, train companies and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the strongest possible support, tools and robust protocols in place”.
Another association leader encouraged the train operator and authorities “to move quickly to examine security, to support the impacted workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Driver Commended for Rapid Thinking
The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “good”, and has been commended by union officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“He did not stop the train in the middle of two stops where it’s clearly difficult for the first responders to access, but he carried on traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost already there,” stated a union official.
Additional Information
Police said they got the first distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was compelled to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One observer recounted initially thinking if the event was a Halloween joke, but quickly understood from people's faces that it was serious.
Police have stated there is nothing to suggest the event was a terror-related attack and have requested the public to come forward with any additional information.
Rail services on the impacted route are anticipated to experience delays until the following day, with travelers recommended to postpone their journeys where feasible.
Anyone with details that could help the investigation are asked to contact police by texting a specific number with a case code.