UPDATE: Two people are in critical condition following a shocking stabbing attack on a train at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire. The incident occurred on the evening of November 1, 2023, around 7:40 PM, leaving 11 injured and prompting a major police response.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as a man wielding a large knife attacked passengers, leading to an unscheduled stop of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train. Armed police swiftly arrived, arresting two suspects: a 32-year-old Black British man and a 35-year-old British man of Caribbean descent. Both are now in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
Superintendent John Loveless of the British Transport Police provided a critical update, confirming that while ten individuals were transported to hospital, another victim self-presented later that night. Initially, nine were reported with life-threatening injuries; however, following treatment, four have since been discharged. The two remaining victims are still fighting for their lives.
The police have declared a major incident, with the Counter Terrorism Policing unit involved in the investigation. However, Superintendent Loveless emphasized, “there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident.” The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances and motivations behind the attack.
Huntingdon railway station remained cordoned off this morning, with police maintaining a strong presence in the area. Eyewitness accounts reveal the extent of the panic, with reports of passengers hiding in toilets to evade the assailant. One witness, identified as Gavin, described seeing the suspect being tasered before his arrest.
Another witness, Olly Foster, recounted a dramatic moment when an older man intervened to protect a younger girl, sustaining injuries to his head and neck in the process. Passengers were seen using their clothing to apply pressure to wounds, showcasing the immediate human response to the crisis.
Video footage circulating on social media captured the intense police response, with emergency vehicles flooding the station’s car park. The attack reportedly started shortly after the LNER train departed from Peterborough station, leading to significant travel disruptions along the East Coast Mainline.
Travelers are advised to defer journeys on routes between London Kings Cross and cities including Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, and Harrogate, as service delays are expected to continue until Monday.
As the situation develops, authorities are urging anyone with information or footage related to the attack to come forward. The community remains shaken as they process the events of the night and the ongoing investigation into this alarming incident. Stay tuned for further updates as more information becomes available.
