Counter-terrorism police have joined an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train, which left nine people with life-threatening injuries.
The train was stopped at Huntingdon station, in Cambridgeshire, after police received the first 999 call at 7.39pm on Saturday.
A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on the high-speed train after it left nearby Peterborough station.
Mass stabbing on train from Doncaster to King’s Cross – as it happened
British Transport Police said two people had been arrested and in total, 10 people – nine with life-threatening injuries – had been taken to hospital.
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The train, where the stabbing happened, could still be seen at Huntingdon station on Sunday morning
Armed police, paramedics, air ambulances, and transport police were deployed to the train – the 6.25pm London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service between Doncaster and London King’s Cross.
Witnesses told Sky News the stabbings started around nine minutes after the train left Peterborough and passengers sounded the emergency alarm.
Some told of people trampling over each other, and some hiding in the toilets to escape. One told Sky News he saw one of the attackers being Tasered by police before being arrested.
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Policing commentator Graham Wettone speaks to Gillian Joseph
Police declared the situation a “major incident” and say counter-terrorism police are now supporting the investigation.
At one point, “Plato” was declared – the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack” – before it was subsequently rescinded.
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Armed police, paramedics, air ambulances, and transport police were at the scene of the attack in minutes. Pic: PA
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the “appalling incident” was “deeply concerning”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,” he wrote on X.
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Police remain at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire on Sunday morning
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident and urged the public to “avoid comment and speculation at this early stage”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said on X: “Horrific scenes in Huntingdon, in what seems to be a brutal mass attack by two perpetrators.
“My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding.”
Read more:
‘They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed’: Eyewitness recalls attack
Mass stabbing on train: How the attack unfolded
Watch – moment armed police arrive at train stabbing in Huntingdon
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‘A big response’
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty spoke to Sky News at the scene. He said: “When I first arrived here, I’ve simply never seen as big a response to an emergency incident as there was in terms of police, fire and ambulance.”
On Sunday morning, Mr Obese-Jecty spoke again about the “rapid, incredible response” and praised the “brave officers who came to try and neutralise that threat”.
The chief constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary told him officers had been training for a similar emergency “only last week”. The MP also called for people to avoid guessing about the circumstances.
“But I think also people need to keep cool heads at this time. I’ve seen an awful lot of speculation online and a lot of misinformation,” he added.
David Horne, managing director of LNER, said the company is “deeply shocked and saddened”.
National Rail says some train routes to and from London King’s Cross on LNER, Great Northern and Thameslink services face disruption on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said they were “horrified” by the attack.
“Our thoughts remain with the train crew and passengers who were either at work or going about their business on a busy Saturday night during this awful incident.”
