Brave Rail Employee Endures Critical Wounds Amid Multiple Knife Attack on High-Speed Train
A courageous railway staff member who intervened to protect passengers during a multiple knife incident on a express train has suffered life-threatening injuries, police confirmed on Sunday.
Particulars of the Frightening Incident
CCTV video reportedly depicts the staff member attempting to halt the attacker as the train traveled between Peterborough and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders described a frightening 14-minute duration after the train left Peterborough, with injured victims fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Authorities announced a major event on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Reaction and Aftermath
The event on Saturday night resulted in 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five people have now been released from medical care.
A bystander recorded the suspect waving a large knife and being shot with a stun device as he faced police on the platform. He was allegedly heard yelling, "End my life, kill me."
“This terrible incident has affected many people. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the courageous member of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers,” stated a high-ranking police official.
Union Reaction and Appeals for Action
Train associations were swift to praise employees and call for more action. One union leader said he would be “seeking urgent discussions with authorities, train companies and police to guarantee that we have the best available assistance, resources and effective procedures in place”.
Another union representative urged the train operator and government “to act quickly to review security, to support the affected employees, and to ensure nothing like this occurs again”.
Driver Praised for Rapid Thinking
The operator who halted the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “good”, and has been praised by association representatives for doing “exactly the right thing”.
“The driver didn’t halt the service in the middle of two stations where it’s obviously challenging for the emergency services to reach, but he continued traveling until he got to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much already there,” stated a association representative.
Further Details
Police said they received the initial distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
One witness recounted initially wondering if the situation was a Halloween prank, but soon understood from people's expressions that it was real.
Police have stated there is no evidence to indicate the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the community to provide with any further information.
Train operations on the impacted line are anticipated to experience delays until the following day, with passengers recommended to postpone their journeys where possible.
Anyone with details that could help the inquiry are asked to reach police by texting a designated number with a reference code.