Several Injured in Knife Attack on Train in England, Two Arrested
Several people were stabbed on Saturday evening aboard a train heading to London in eastern England. Police reported that two individuals have been arrested in connection with what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as an "extremely concerning" incident.
Authorities were alerted to the situation on the train around 7:40 PM local time (GMT) and responded at Huntingdon station, located approximately 120 kilometers north of the capital in the Cambridge university city region.
"We are currently responding to an incident on a train heading to Huntingdon, where several individuals have been stabbed," stated the British Transport Police on X, confirming that "two people have been arrested".
"Several individuals have been taken to the hospital," police added, without specifying the number of injuries or whether there were any fatalities. Some media outlets reported between 10 to 12 injuries, but no official confirmation was provided regarding these figures.
The identities of the two arrested individuals have not been disclosed by the authorities.
Witnesses interviewed by The Times reported seeing a man armed with a large knife, with passengers hiding in the train's toilets for safety. One witness mentioned seeing "blood everywhere".
Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly reacted on X, calling the incident "extremely concerning".
"My thoughts are with everyone affected, and I thank the emergency services for their response," he added, advising those in the area of the attack to "follow police guidance".
"National Crisis"
Regional emergency services stated they mobilized a "significant response" at Huntingdon station.
"We can confirm we have transported several patients to the hospital," said a spokesperson for the East England Ambulance Service.
The train where the attack occurred was traveling from Doncaster (northern England) to London’s King’s Cross station, according to the British Transport Police.
The rail company London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates services in eastern England and Scotland, advised travelers to avoid traveling due to expected "major disruptions".
In a country where gun laws are very strict, knife violence has significantly increased over the past fifteen years in England and Wales, according to official figures. The Prime Minister has previously labeled the situation a "national crisis".
The Starmer government has taken several measures to tighten access to knives since taking office in July 2024.
Nearly 60,000 knives have been seized or recovered by police in the past decade, as noted by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Wednesday.
The Minister expressed her "deep sadness" on X regarding the attack in Cambridgeshire, confirming the arrest of two suspects.
This incident follows a month after an attack on a synagogue north of Manchester, where a man attacked worshippers armed with a knife. Two individuals were killed, one of whom was shot by police responding to the scene.
