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Nine critically injured in mass stabbing on London-bound train
A knife attack on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service from Doncaster to London King's Cross on Saturday evening left ten people injured, with nine suffering life-threatening wounds, authorities confirmed. Emergency services responded after passengers alerted police at approximately 19:40 GMT, prompting an armed intervention at Huntingdon station, where two suspects were detained.
Attack unfolds mid-journey
The assault began after the 18:25 train departed Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, according to passenger accounts. Witnesses described chaos as at least one assailant wielding a knife moved through carriages, stabbing multiple victims. The train made an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon-roughly 15 minutes from Peterborough-where armed officers boarded and subdued the suspects, one of whom was reportedly tasered.
Passenger Olly Foster told the BBC he initially mistook shouts of "Run, there's a guy stabbing literally everyone" for a Halloween prank, only to encounter an elderly man with severe head and neck wounds who had shielded a young girl. Another witness, Wren Chambers, recounted seeing victims flee toward the front of the train while others barricaded themselves in toilets. Dean McFarlane, a London Underground worker, described "multiple people running down the platform, bleeding," including one man whose white shirt was "completely covered in blood."
Emergency response and investigation
British Transport Police (BTP) declared a major incident, briefly invoking the national "Plato" code-a protocol for marauding terror attacks-before later retracting it. Counter-terrorism officers joined the probe, though authorities cautioned against speculation. "We're conducting urgent enquiries to establish what happened," said Ch Supt Chris Casey, noting that confirmation of motives could take time.
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty arrived at the scene just after 21:00 to find "about 10 ambulances, several fire engines, and well over 20 police cars." The station and adjacent A1307 road remained closed Sunday morning, with forensics teams examining the train. All ten victims-whose identities were withheld-were rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a 30-minute drive away.
Political reactions and travel disruptions
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as "appalling and deeply concerning," thanking emergency responders via X (formerly Twitter). Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged restraint amid ongoing investigations, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the incident "absolutely horrific."
LNER advised passengers to avoid travel on Sunday, offering full refunds for unused tickets from November 2-3 and extending validity for some routes until November 4. Alternative operators-including Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, and ScotRail-honored LNER tickets without additional fees. Delays were expected across the East of England and London networks.
Key developments at a glance
- Time of attack: ~19:25-19:40 GMT, between Peterborough and Huntingdon.
- Victims: 10 injured (9 with life-threatening wounds); treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
- Suspects: 2 arrested; identities undisclosed.
- Police response: Armed officers, forensics, and counter-terrorism involvement.
- Travel impact: Huntingdon station closed; LNER services disrupted; refunds/extensions offered.
