British police have launched an investigation into a mass stabbing aboard a London-bound train, which left ten people injured, including nine in critical condition, in what authorities called a “deeply concerning” incident.
The attack occurred on Saturday evening on a train traveling from Doncaster in northern England to London King’s Cross. The service made an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after violence broke out onboard.
According to police, ten victims were taken to hospital, with nine suffering life-threatening injuries. Two suspects were arrested at the scene, and counter-terrorism officers are assisting with the investigation. Authorities have not yet revealed the suspects’ identities or possible motives.
Forensic teams and police worked through the night at Huntingdon station, combing the area for evidence. Witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers tried to flee the train.
Passenger Olly Foster told the BBC he heard people shouting, “Run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone,” initially thinking it was a Halloween prank. “Then people started pushing through the carriage,” he said, adding that his hand was “covered in blood” from helping an injured passenger.
Foster recalled that an older man stepped in to protect a young girl, blocking the attacker. “It felt like forever,” he said, though the assault lasted only a few minutes.
Other witnesses told Sky News they saw a man holding a large knife on the platform after the train stopped. Police reportedly used a Taser to subdue and arrest the suspect.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “appalling” and “deeply concerning.” London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the route, urged passengers to avoid traveling on Sunday, warning of potential cancellations and disruptions.
The incident comes amid growing concern over knife crime in the UK, which has been rising steadily since 2011 despite strict gun laws. Starmer has previously called it a “national crisis.”
The Home Office recently announced that nearly 60,000 blades have been seized or surrendered as part of a government plan to cut knife crime in half within the next decade.
Saturday’s attack follows a series of violent incidents across the country. In October, two people were killed during a stabbing at a Manchester synagogue, and last week, a man appeared in court in London charged with murder following another fatal stabbing.
Police say the investigation into the train attack is ongoing, with increased security now in place at major transport hubs nationwide.