Courageous Rail Staff Member Endures Severe Injuries Amid Multiple Stabbing Incident on Express Service
A valiant train employee who intervened to protect travelers during a mass knife attack on a high-speed train has suffered critical wounds, authorities stated on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Event
CCTV video reportedly shows the staff member trying to halt the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Witnesses described a terrifying 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with injured passengers running through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in detention for interrogation. Authorities declared a significant incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Response and Aftermath
The incident on the weekend resulted in 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five people have since been released from hospital.
A witness recorded the individual waving a big knife and being subdued with a Taser as he confronted police on the station. He was allegedly heard shouting, "End my life, end my life."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. We are thinking of the victims and their families – particularly the courageous employee of rail staff whose relatives are being supported by specialist personnel,” said a high-ranking police officer.
Labor Response and Calls for Measures
Train associations were quick to praise employees and demand increased action. A union leader stated he would be “requesting urgent discussions with government, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best possible support, resources and robust procedures in place”.
Another association leader urged the rail company and authorities “to move quickly to review security, to help the affected employees, and to make sure nothing like this occurs again”.
Driver Commended for Quick Thinking
The operator who halted the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been commended by union officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver did not halt the service in the middle of two stations where it’s clearly difficult for the emergency services to access, but he continued going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much already there,” stated a union official.
Further Details
Authorities said they got the first emergency reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was compelled to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted initially thinking if the event was a Halloween joke, but soon understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.
Police have stated there is nothing to indicate the incident was a terrorist incident and have requested the community to provide with any further details.
Rail services on the affected route are expected to have delays until Monday, with passengers recommended to postpone their journeys where possible.
Anyone with information that could assist the inquiry are asked to reach authorities by texting a designated number with a reference code.