Heroic Rail Staff Member Suffers Critical Injuries During Multiple Knife Incident on Express Service
A brave railway employee who intervened to protect passengers during a multiple knife incident on a high-speed train has sustained life-threatening injuries, police stated on Sunday.
Particulars of the Frightening Incident
Surveillance video reportedly depicts the employee trying to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between a city and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders described a frightening 14-minute duration after the train departed Peterborough, with injured passengers running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Police announced a significant event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Reaction and Aftermath
The incident on the weekend led to 11 people being treated in hospital after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several individuals have now been released from hospital.
A bystander recorded the suspect waving a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he faced officers on the station. He was allegedly heard yelling, "Kill me, end my life."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – particularly the courageous employee of train personnel whose family are being assisted by trained officers,” said a senior police official.
Labor Response and Calls for Action
Rail unions were swift to commend employees and demand more measures. One labor official said he would be “requesting urgent meetings with authorities, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and effective protocols in operation”.
Another association leader urged the rail company and authorities “to act swiftly to review security, to help the impacted employees, and to ensure nothing like this occurs again”.
Operator Praised for Rapid Thinking
The operator who halted the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “good”, and has been praised by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“He didn’t stop the service in the middle of two stations where it’s clearly difficult for the first responders to reach, but he carried on traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost already there,” explained a union representative.
Further Details
Authorities stated they got the first distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted at first thinking if the event was a Halloween joke, but quickly realized from individuals' faces that it was serious.
Authorities have stated there is no evidence to indicate the incident was a terror-related attack and have asked the public to come forward with any additional information.
Train operations on the affected line are expected to experience disruption until the following day, with passengers advised to defer their journeys where possible.
Anyone with details that could help the investigation are asked to reach authorities by texting a designated number with a case code.