Two Suspects Arrested in UK Train Stabbing Incident where 10 Were Injured
A horrifying scene unfolded on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train in eastern England on Saturday evening when two men carried out a knife attack, leaving ten people injured — nine of them with life-threatening wounds.
The incident occurred around 6:25 p.m. as the train travelled between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.
According to the British Transport Police (BTP), the train was forced to make an emergency stop at Huntingdon Station after passengers raised the alarm. Armed officers swiftly boarded the train, subdued the attackers, and recovered a large knife believed to have been used in the assault.
“We received multiple reports of a serious incident on board an intercity service. Our officers responded within minutes, supported by Cambridgeshire Police and paramedics.
Ten people were transported to hospital, and two suspects are in custody,” Superintendent John Loveless of the BTP said.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as passengers scrambled for safety. One survivor told Sky News that “there was blood everywhere,” adding that many passengers hid in train toilets or tried to escape through connecting doors as the stabbing spree continued.
The suspects — two British men aged 32 and 35 — were arrested on the spot. Both remain in police custody. Investigators confirmed that counter-terrorism officers were initially called in due to the nature of the attack, but authorities later clarified that there was no indication the incident was terror-related.
“We are keeping an open mind about the motive, but nothing so far suggests a link to terrorism,” the BTP stated in a press release on Sunday morning.
The attack has shocked Britain and raised urgent questions about security on public transport. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, calling it “an appalling act that has no place in our society.” He praised emergency services for their rapid response and pledged support for the victims and their families.
Rail operator LNER confirmed that services between Peterborough and London King’s Cross were temporarily suspended while police conducted forensic examinations of the train and platform area. Service resumed gradually on Sunday afternoon under heavy police presence.
Health officials at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge said several of the victims underwent emergency surgery overnight, with two in critical condition.
The attack marks one of the most serious incidents of violence on the UK’s rail network in recent years. While motive remains unclear, authorities say the investigation will focus on whether the suspects knew any of the victims or if the attack was random.
As police continue their inquiries, Britain’s Home Office has promised to review train-security measures and surveillance systems across intercity routes, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future.
For now, the country remains stunned by the brutality of an attack that turned an ordinary train journey into a night of terror.
