Heroic Train Staff Member Receives Critical Injuries During Mass Knife Attack on High-Speed Service
A brave railway employee who stepped in to protect travelers during a mass stabbing attack on a high-speed train has sustained life-threatening injuries, authorities stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Incident
CCTV video reportedly depicts the employee trying to halt the attacker as the train traveled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses described a terrifying 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured victims running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in custody for questioning. Police declared a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Response and Consequences
The event on the weekend led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been released from medical care.
A bystander recorded the individual brandishing a large knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced officers on the platform. He was allegedly heard shouting, "Kill me, end my life."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – especially the brave member of train personnel whose family are being assisted by trained officers,” stated a senior police officer.
Union Response and Appeals for Action
Rail unions were quick to commend employees and demand increased action. A union official stated he would be “requesting immediate discussions with authorities, rail employers and law enforcement to guarantee that we have the strongest possible assistance, resources and robust procedures in place”.
A different union leader encouraged the train operator and government “to act swiftly to review safety, to support the affected employees, and to ensure nothing like this happens again”.
Operator Praised for Rapid Thinking
The train driver who halted the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been commended by association representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“The driver did not stop the train in the center of two stops where it’s obviously difficult for the first responders to reach, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there,” stated a association official.
Further Details
Police said they received the first distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was compelled to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer described initially thinking if the event was a holiday joke, but quickly realized from individuals' faces that it was serious.
Police have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist incident and have asked the public to come forward with any additional information.
Train services on the impacted route are expected to have disruption until the following day, with travelers recommended to postpone their journeys where possible.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation are asked to reach authorities by sending a message a specific number with a case code.
