Courageous Rail Staff Member Receives Critical Injuries During Multiple Stabbing Incident on High-Speed Train
A brave train employee who stepped in to protect travelers during a mass knife incident on a high-speed train has sustained critical wounds, police confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Event
CCTV video allegedly depicts the staff member attempting to stop the assailant as the train traveled between Peterborough and another station in the county. Bystanders recounted a frightening 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured passengers fleeing through compartments.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in detention for questioning. Authorities announced a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Emergency Reaction and Consequences
The event on the weekend led to 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five people have now been released from medical care.
A witness filmed the suspect brandishing a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he confronted officers on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "End my life, end my life."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – particularly the courageous employee of train personnel whose family are being supported by trained personnel,” said a senior police official.
Union Reaction and Calls for Action
Train associations were quick to praise employees and call for more measures. A labor leader stated he would be “seeking immediate meetings with government, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best available support, resources and effective procedures in operation”.
A different union leader urged the rail company and government “to act swiftly to review security, to help the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Driver Praised for Rapid Thinking
The train driver who stopped the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been praised by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver didn’t stop the service in the middle of two stops where it’s obviously difficult for the emergency services to reach, but he carried on traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was almost waiting,” stated a union representative.
Additional Details
Authorities said they got the initial distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer described at first thinking if the event was a Halloween joke, but quickly realized from people's faces that it was serious.
Police have stated there is nothing to indicate the event was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to come forward with any additional details.
Rail operations on the impacted line are expected to have delays until Monday, with passengers recommended to postpone their journeys where feasible.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation are asked to contact police by sending a message a specific number with a case code.
