Passengers on a London-bound train were left fleeing in panic Saturday night after a man armed with a knife attacked commuters on a packed carriage, injuring at least ten people and triggering a major emergency response across eastern England.
British Transport Police said nine of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries after the assault on the 18:25 GMT London North Eastern Railway service from Doncaster to King’s Cross.
The motive remains unclear, and counter-terrorism officers have joined the investigation.
The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon, roughly 15 minutes south of Peterborough, after passengers dialled 999 to report that a man was “stabbing everyone.”
Armed police stormed the train and arrested two people at the scene. One of the men was subdued with a Taser, according to witnesses.
Panic on board
Passengers described chaotic scenes as the attack unfolded somewhere between Peterborough and Huntingdon.
“People were shouting, ‘Run, there’s a guy stabbing literally everyone,’” said Olly Foster, who was seated in the middle of the train.
“At first I thought it was some kind of Halloween prank, until I saw the blood.”
Foster said he watched an older man step between the attacker and a younger girl, taking deep cuts to his head and neck in the process.
“He basically saved her,” he said. “People were using their jackets to try to stop the bleeding.”
Some locked themselves in toilets while others crowded toward the front of the train.
Emergency response
The first calls to police came just before 19:40 GMT. Within minutes, Huntingdon station was flooded with emergency vehicles.
Witnesses described a “sea of flashing lights” as police, paramedics and fire crews arrived.
Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty said there were at least ten ambulances, several fire engines, and “well over 20 police cars” at the scene when he arrived shortly after 21:00.
Air ambulances transported victims to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, a specialist trauma centre roughly 30 minutes away.
The incident lasted about 15 minutes, police said. Uninjured passengers were later interviewed by officers before being placed on a coach to London.
By early Sunday morning, Huntingdon station remained cordoned off with forensics tents visible along the platform. The LNER train, now empty, sat under police guard.
The A1307 road outside the station was also closed to traffic.
Investigation underway
British Transport Police declared a major incident and confirmed that counter-terrorism units were assisting “to establish the full circumstances and motivation.:
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said officers were pursuing several lines of inquiry but cautioned against speculation. “We are conducting urgent investigations to determine what happened,” he said. “It could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.”
Authorities briefly activated “Operation Plato,” a national emergency code used when responding to possible marauding terror attacks, but the alert was later stood down once officers confirmed the situation was contained.
No details about the two suspects have been released. Police declined to say whether they were known to authorities.
PM calls the attack “deeply concerning”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “appalling” and “deeply concerning,” and praised emergency crews for their rapid response.
“My thoughts are with all those affected,” Starmer said on X. “This was a shocking act of violence against ordinary passengers. The investigation must proceed swiftly.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was being briefed regularly by security officials and urged the public not to share speculation online.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called the reports “deeply disturbing” and extended her sympathies to victims and their families.
“This was a horrific act, and we owe enormous gratitude to those who ran toward danger to protect others,” she said.
Many trains are delayed or cancelled
London North Eastern Railway said services along the East Coast Main Line would face significant disruption through Sunday, with trains delayed or cancelled as police continue their investigation at Huntingdon.
The operator urged passengers to avoid travel where possible and said full refunds would be offered for unused tickets. Tickets from Saturday and Sunday will remain valid until Tuesday, November 4.
To ease congestion, LNER tickets will be accepted on Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry, ScotRail, and Greater Anglia services, as well as Great Northern and Thameslink routes between King’s Cross, Stevenage, and Peterborough.
Community in shock
The attack has stunned Huntingdon, a market town of 25,000 people, about 60 miles north of London. Residents woke Sunday to find the station sealed off and police tents erected along the tracks.
Local councillor Sarah Gifford said people were struggling to process what had happened.
“You don’t expect something like this to happen here,” she said. “The community is shocked and frightened, but overwhelmingly grateful to the emergency services.”
By midday, forensic officers could still be seen boarding the train, photographing the carriages where the attacks occurred. Police tape lined the platforms as investigators combed for evidence.
Authorities have not ruled out any motive, though officials stressed there was no ongoing threat to the public.
For now, rail passengers across the East of England are facing disruption, and the country is once again confronting questions about security on public transport.
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