Multiple people were stabbed on a train in the UK’s Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening, prompting armed police to intercept the train and arrest two men in connection with the incident, authorities said.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said its officers are working closely with British Transport Police (BTP) after the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where the injured were taken to hospital.
“We were called at 7:39 pm (local time) with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train,” Cambridgeshire Constabulary said in a statement. “Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital,” police added.
British Transport Police confirmed that officers responded to the incident on a train to Huntingdon “where multiple people have been stabbed.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “appalling incident” and urged the public to follow police advice. “The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning,” Starmer said on X. “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply saddened” by the stabbings and urged people to avoid speculation. “Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody. I am receiving regular updates on the investigation,” she said.
A “large-scale response” was launched by the East of England Ambulance Service, which deployed numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, and its Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. Critical care teams, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, also responded and confirmed transporting multiple patients to hospital.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the incident as a “brutal mass attack.” He said, “My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding. The police and government should provide an update on what happened and who has been arrested as soon as possible.”
Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard of “horrendous scenes” on the train.
Roads leading into the town of Huntingdon and services operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) were severely disrupted as emergency services dealt with the aftermath of the attack.
A witness on the train told Sky News that he saw a passenger moving through the carriage saying, “They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed.” The witness added, “They were making their way through the carriage to get away from the suspects. They were extremely bloodied.”
Authorities have yet to release details about the victims’ conditions or the motive behind the attack.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies.
