A mass stabbing on a London-bound passenger train has left 10 people injured, nine of them critically, in what British authorities have described as a “deeply concerning” attack that has shocked the nation.
Okay News reports that the incident occurred on Saturday evening aboard a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train traveling from Doncaster in northern England to King’s Cross Station in central London. The train was forced to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire after chaos broke out on board.
British Transport Police confirmed that two suspects were arrested at the scene as counter-terrorism officers joined the investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. “Ten people were hospitalised, nine of whom are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries,” the police said in an official statement.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers fled through the carriages to escape the knife-wielding assailant. One passenger, Olly Foster, told the BBC that he heard screams of “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone.”
“At first, I thought it was a Halloween prank,” Foster recalled. “But then I saw blood everywhere. My hand was covered in it, and people were crying and shouting for help.”
According to Foster, an older man courageously intervened to protect a younger girl from being attacked. “It felt like forever, even though it only lasted minutes,” he added.
Witnesses also told Sky News that a man armed with a large knife was seen on the platform after the train halted. Police reportedly used a taser to subdue and restrain the suspect.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling it “appalling and deeply concerning.” He assured the public that security agencies were working tirelessly to ensure justice and prevent future occurrences.
Okay News reports that the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) advised travelers to avoid train travel on Sunday as services along the Doncaster–London route were disrupted. “Several services may be canceled at short notice,” the company said in a statement.
The United Kingdom has witnessed a worrying surge in knife-related attacks in recent years. According to government statistics, knife crime in England and Wales has steadily risen since 2011, despite some of the world’s strictest gun control laws.
The British Home Office revealed earlier this week that nearly 60,000 knives have been “seized or surrendered” as part of ongoing efforts to reduce knife violence by half within a decade.
The latest incident follows other violent attacks in recent months, including a stabbing at a Manchester synagogue in early October that left two people dead and several others wounded.
As forensic experts continued investigations through the night at Huntingdon Station, authorities appealed for witnesses to come forward with information. Police have yet to disclose the identities of the two arrested suspects or a potential motive for the attack.
