Heroic Rail Staff Member Endures Critical Injuries During Mass Stabbing Incident on High-Speed Service
A courageous railway staff member who intervened to protect travelers during a mass knife attack on a high-speed train has sustained life-threatening wounds, police stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Event
Surveillance video reportedly shows the staff member attempting to halt the assailant as the train journeyed between a city and another station in the county. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with bloodied victims fleeing through compartments.
The individual, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, remains in detention for interrogation. Police declared a significant incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Response and Consequences
The event on Saturday night led to 11 people being cared for in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been released from hospital.
A witness 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, "End my life, kill me."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. We are thinking of the victims and their families – particularly the brave member of train personnel whose relatives are being supported by specialist personnel,” stated a senior law enforcement official.
Union Reaction and Appeals for Measures
Train unions were swift to commend employees and call for more measures. One union official said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with authorities, train companies and law enforcement to ensure that we have the best available assistance, tools and effective procedures in place”.
Another union leader urged the rail company and authorities “to act quickly to examine safety, to help the affected workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Operator Commended for Rapid Thinking
The train driver who stopped the service at Huntingdon was described as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been commended by association representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver did not stop the service in the center of two stops where it’s clearly challenging for the first responders to reach, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was almost already there,” stated a union representative.
Additional Details
Police said they got the initial emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer described at first wondering if the event was a Halloween joke, but quickly understood from people's faces that it was serious.
Police have confirmed there is nothing to suggest the incident was a terror-related incident and have asked the public to provide with any additional information.
Train services on the affected line are anticipated to have delays until Monday, with passengers advised to postpone their travel where feasible.
Individuals with information that could help the investigation are asked to reach police by sending a message a designated number with a case code.