Heroic Train Employee Suffers Critical Wounds Amid Mass Stabbing Attack on Express Train
A valiant railway staff member who intervened to protect travelers during a multiple stabbing attack on a high-speed train has sustained life-threatening wounds, authorities stated on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Event
CCTV footage reportedly shows the staff member trying to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between a city and another station in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses recounted a terrifying 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for questioning. Police declared a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Reaction and Consequences
The event on the weekend led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Several people have now been released from medical care.
A bystander recorded the suspect brandishing a large knife and being shot with a stun device as he confronted police on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "End my life, end my life."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – especially the courageous member of rail staff whose relatives are being supported by trained officers,” said a senior police official.
Labor Reaction and Calls for Measures
Rail associations were swift to praise staff and demand increased measures. One union leader said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with authorities, rail employers and law enforcement to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and effective protocols in operation”.
Another union leader urged the train operator and government “to move quickly to review safety, to help the affected workers, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Operator Praised for Quick Thinking
The train driver who halted the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by association officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver didn’t halt the service in the center of two stops where it’s obviously challenging for the emergency services to access, but he carried on going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost waiting,” explained a union representative.
Further Details
Police stated they got the first emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness described at first thinking if the situation was a Halloween joke, but quickly realized from people's expressions that it was serious.
Police have stated there is nothing to indicate the incident was a terrorist incident and have requested the public to come forward with any additional details.
Rail services on the impacted line are expected to have delays until Monday, with travelers recommended to defer their journeys where feasible.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation are asked to contact authorities by texting a designated number with a reference code.