Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on a train travelling through Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening.
Emergency services were called at 19:42 GMT after reports of a violent incident aboard the 18:25 LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross. The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, where armed officers boarded and detained two suspects within eight minutes of the first 999 call. British Transport Police (BTP) said the attack is not currently being treated as terror-related.
Ten passengers were taken to hospital. Four have since been discharged, while two remain in a life-threatening condition. The arrested men—a 32-year-old Black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, both born in the UK—are being questioned at separate police stations.
Speaking outside Huntingdon station, BTP Superintendent John Loveless described the incident as “shocking”, adding that officers were working to establish what happened but would not speculate on motives. Counter-terrorism officers initially supported the investigation, but police say there is no evidence of a terrorism link.
Huntingdon station remained closed overnight as forensic work continued, though trains were expected to pass through the station again on Sunday. Passengers are being advised to expect disruption, with LNER offering free deferral of travel until 4 November and arranging replacement buses for those using Huntingdon.
Witnesses described scenes of panic aboard the train. One passenger, Wren Chambers, recalled seeing a man run through the carriage with a bleeding arm, shouting: “They’ve got a knife, run.” Another witness, Olly Foster, said he at first thought the commotion might be a Halloween prank, before realising people were fleeing from an attacker. Several passengers reported seeing a man armed with a large knife on the platform before he was tasered and restrained by police.
Victims are being treated at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
The incident prompted responses from senior political figures. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the attack “deeply concerning” and thanked emergency services for their swift response. Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who attended the scene on Saturday night, described a “significant” emergency presence, calling the events “appalling and devastating.” Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow expressed shock, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the public to avoid speculation.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the “absolutely horrific attack” and extended her thoughts to victims and first responders. Photo by Elliott Brown from Birmingham, United Kingdom, Wikimedia commons.