Courageous Rail Employee Receives Severe Injuries Amid Multiple Stabbing Incident on High-Speed Train

A courageous railway staff member who stepped in to save travelers during a mass knife incident on a express train has sustained critical wounds, police confirmed on Sunday.

Particulars of the Frightening Event

Surveillance video reportedly depicts the employee trying to halt the attacker as the train journeyed between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a terrifying 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with injured passengers fleeing through carriages.

The individual, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in detention for interrogation. Authorities announced 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 Saturday night led to 11 people being cared for in medical facilities after the train made an unplanned stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been released from hospital.

A bystander filmed the suspect waving a big knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced officers on the station. He was allegedly heard shouting, "Kill me, 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 train personnel whose family are being assisted by specialist officers,” said a senior police officer.

Labor Response and Calls for Action

Train unions were swift to praise staff and demand increased action. A union official stated he would be “requesting immediate discussions with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible assistance, tools and robust procedures in operation”.

Another association representative urged the rail company and government “to move quickly to examine security, to support the impacted employees, and to make sure that no incident like this happens again”.

Operator Praised for Quick Action

The operator who halted the service at Huntingdon was reported as being “deeply affected” but “well”, and has been praised by association officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.

“He didn’t halt the train in the center of two stations where it’s clearly challenging for the emergency services to access, but he continued traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the response was pretty much waiting,” stated a union representative.

Additional Details

Police said they received the first emergency calls at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.

An witness described at first thinking if the event was a Halloween prank, but quickly understood from individuals' faces that it was serious.

Authorities have stated there is nothing to suggest the event was a terrorist incident and have asked the community to provide with any additional information.

Rail services on the affected route are expected to experience disruption until Monday, with passengers recommended to postpone their journeys where possible.

Individuals with information that could help the investigation are encouraged to contact authorities by texting a designated number with a reference code.

Ruth Murphy
Ruth Murphy

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