Brave Train Staff Member Suffers Life-Threatening Wounds Amid Mass Knife Attack on Express Service
A brave railway employee who stepped in to save travelers during a mass stabbing incident on a express train has sustained critical wounds, police confirmed on Sunday.
Particulars of the Terrifying Event
Surveillance video allegedly shows the staff member attempting to stop the assailant as the train traveled between Peterborough and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders described a frightening 14-minute period after the train departed Peterborough, with bloodied passengers fleeing through compartments.
The individual, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, remains in custody for interrogation. Police declared a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.
Crisis Response and Aftermath
The incident on the weekend resulted in 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at platform 2 in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been discharged from hospital.
A bystander recorded the individual waving a big knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced police on the station. He was reportedly heard shouting, "End my life, end my life."
“This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being assisted by specialist personnel,” stated a high-ranking police officer.
Labor Response and Appeals for Action
Train unions were quick to commend employees and call for increased action. A union leader said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with authorities, rail employers and police to guarantee that we have the best possible assistance, resources and effective procedures in operation”.
A different association representative urged the rail company and authorities “to act quickly to examine safety, to help the impacted workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Operator Commended for Rapid Action
The operator who stopped the train at Huntingdon was reported as being “very shaken” but “good”, and has been commended by union representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver did not halt the train in the center of two stops where it’s obviously challenging for the emergency services to access, but he continued going until he got to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much waiting,” explained a association representative.
Additional Information
Authorities stated they received the first distress calls at 7:39 pm, and the service was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An observer described at first thinking if the event was a holiday joke, but soon realized from people's expressions that it was real.
Authorities have confirmed there is nothing to suggest the event was a terror-related incident and have asked the public to come forward with any additional details.
Rail operations on the impacted line are anticipated to experience delays until the following day, with travelers advised to defer their travel where possible.
Individuals with information that could help the inquiry are asked to contact police by texting a designated number with a reference code.