Two men have been arrested and “a number of people” rushed to hospital after a horrifying mass stabbing on a train.
A London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train was stopped in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, at 7.39pm following reports of the attack.
More than 30 officers, including armed police, attended the scene.
“We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed,” British Transport Police said on X, adding that “two people have been arrested”.
Cambridgeshire police said: “A number of people have been taken to hospital.”
Witnesses at the scene said bystanders were tramped on as others tried to flee, The Sun reported.
One man, seen “holding a large knife”, was tasered by police, one commuter said.
Another described the scene on the train as “horrific” and “pure chaos” onboard, adding: “There was blood everywhere, it was a terrible scene, really violent.
“It was like something from a film – it didn’t feel real and just sparked pure panic onboard.”
They said all passengers, who were “shaken and traumatised”, were still stuck at Huntingdon station.
It is believed about 12 people had been taken to hospital for treatement, a bystander named Gavin told Sky News.
“Initially it looked like around four to six people had been stabbed, but when we were going up the train, I think they doubled back and just attacked anyone they could,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the “appalling” incident was “deeply concerning”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,” Starmer said in a statement on X.
“Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
Video from the scene shows emergency services flooding the station and its surrounds.
Armed police are seen running down the platform alongside the stopped train.
Train operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER) said all its railway lines had been closed while emergency services dealt with the incident at Huntingdon station.
LNER, which runs trains along the east of England and Scotland, urged passengers not to travel, warning of “major disruption”.
It serves major stops including in London, Peterborough, Cambridge, York and Edinburgh.
The mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow said in a post on X: “Hearing reports of horrendous scenes on a train in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire”, adding that his “thoughts are with everyone affected”.
It comes as Britain continues to grapple with a knife crime epidemic, which has been branded a “national crisis” by Starmer.
More to come.
