Heroic Rail Staff Member Suffers Critical Wounds During Multiple Stabbing Incident on Express Train
A courageous railway employee who intervened to save travelers during a multiple stabbing attack on a high-speed train has suffered life-threatening wounds, police confirmed on Sunday.
Particulars of the Frightening Event
Surveillance footage allegedly depicts the employee trying to stop the assailant as the train traveled between a city and another station in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in detention for interrogation. Police announced a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Response and Consequences
The event on Saturday night resulted in 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five individuals have now been released from hospital.
A bystander recorded the individual waving a big knife and being shot with a Taser as he faced police on the platform. He was reportedly heard yelling, "Kill me, kill me."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – particularly the courageous employee of train personnel whose relatives are being assisted by specialist personnel,” stated a high-ranking police official.
Union Reaction and Calls for Measures
Rail unions were quick to commend employees and call for more measures. One labor leader said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with government, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best possible assistance, tools and robust protocols in operation”.
A different union leader urged the rail company and government “to act swiftly to review safety, to help the affected workers, and to make sure that no incident like this happens again”.
Driver Praised for Rapid Action
The train driver who halted the service at Huntingdon was described as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been praised by union representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“The driver didn’t stop the train in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously difficult for the emergency services to reach, but he continued going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there,” stated a union representative.
Additional Information
Authorities said they received the first distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An witness described at first wondering if the event was a Halloween joke, but quickly realized from individuals' faces that it was serious.
Police have stated there is nothing to indicate the event was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to provide with any additional details.
Rail operations on the affected line are expected to have disruption until Monday, with passengers advised to postpone their travel where feasible.
Anyone with details that could assist the investigation are encouraged to reach police by texting a specific number with a case code.
