Heroic Rail Employee Suffers Critical Injuries During Multiple Knife Attack on High-Speed Service
A brave railway employee who stepped in to save passengers during a mass knife incident on a high-speed train has suffered critical injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Frightening Event
Surveillance video reportedly depicts the employee attempting to stop the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in the county. Witnesses recounted a frightening 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured passengers running through carriages.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for interrogation. Police announced a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Emergency Reaction and Aftermath
The event on the weekend resulted in 11 people being cared for in hospital after the train made an unplanned stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Several people have since been released from hospital.
A witness recorded the individual waving a big knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced officers on the station. He was reportedly heard shouting, "End my life, end my life."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. Our sympathies go out to the injured and their loved ones – particularly the courageous member of rail staff whose family are being assisted by trained personnel,” said a high-ranking law enforcement official.
Union Reaction and Calls for Measures
Train associations were quick to praise staff and call for more action. One union leader stated he would be “requesting urgent meetings with government, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best available support, resources and effective protocols in place”.
Another union representative encouraged the rail company and government “to move swiftly to examine safety, to support the affected employees, and to ensure that no incident like this occurs again”.
Driver Commended for Rapid Action
The operator who stopped the service at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been praised by association representatives for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“The driver didn’t stop the train in the center of two stops where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to access, but he continued traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost waiting,” explained a union representative.
Further Details
Authorities stated they received the initial distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One observer described at first thinking if the situation was a holiday joke, but quickly realized from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Authorities have stated there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to provide with any additional details.
Train operations on the affected line are anticipated to experience delays until the following day, with travelers advised to postpone their travel where possible.
Anyone with details that could assist the investigation are asked to contact police by texting a designated number with a case code.