Heroic Train Staff Member Suffers Severe Wounds During Multiple Stabbing Attack on High-Speed Service
A courageous train employee who intervened to save travelers during a mass knife incident on a high-speed train has suffered critical wounds, authorities stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Event
Surveillance video reportedly shows the staff member trying to stop the attacker as the train traveled between a city and another station in the county. Witnesses described a frightening 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with bloodied victims fleeing through compartments.
The individual, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, remains in detention for questioning. Authorities declared a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Emergency Reaction and Aftermath
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 now been released from medical care.
A witness filmed the suspect waving a big knife and being subdued with a Taser as he faced officers on the platform. He was allegedly heard yelling, "End my life, kill me."
“This awful event has created broad consequences. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the brave employee of rail staff whose relatives are being assisted by trained officers,” stated a high-ranking law enforcement official.
Union Response and Appeals for Measures
Train associations were quick to praise staff and demand more action. A labor official said he would be “seeking immediate discussions with authorities, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, tools and effective protocols in operation”.
Another association representative encouraged the rail company and government “to move quickly to examine safety, to help the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Operator Praised for Quick Thinking
The train driver who stopped the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver did not halt the service in the center of two stops where it’s clearly challenging for the first responders to access, but he carried on going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was almost already there,” explained a union representative.
Further Information
Authorities stated they received the initial emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the train was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer recounted at first thinking if the event was a Halloween prank, but quickly understood from individuals' expressions that it was serious.
Police have stated there is nothing to suggest the event was a terrorist attack and have asked the public to come forward with any additional information.
Train services on the impacted line are expected to experience disruption until the following day, with travelers recommended to defer their journeys where possible.
Individuals with details that could assist the investigation are asked to reach authorities by texting a specific number with a case code.
