A number of people have been stabbed in an incident on a train to London run by the York based operator, LNER.
It happened as it was heading south on the East Coast Main Line between Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.
A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on a high speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.
British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings which happened on the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday.
Ten people are in hospital – with nine believed to have life-threatening injuries. The latest statement from police says “There have been no fatalities.”
It’s been described as a “major incident” and counter terrorism officers are supporting the investigation.
Armed police arrested two men once the train was brought to an emergency halt at Huntingdon station, which LNER does not usually call at.
They have been taken into police custody.
Police at one point declared “Plato” – the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”. However, this declaration was later rescinded, British Transport Police said.
Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage.
Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone”, and believed it might have been a prank related to Halloween.
Mr Foster said that people quickly started pushing through the carriage, and he noticed his hand was “covered in blood” as there was “blood all over the chair” he had leaned on.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey called the stabbing attack a “shocking incident”, but said he was unable to speculate on the cause.
“Our response is ongoing at the station and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.”
He said that for the time being no trains would be able to run through the area.
More than 30 officers went to the incident which involved the 18:25 Doncaster to London Kings Cross service, British Transport Police Confirmed.
Currently there is engineering work taking place between Doncaster and York with people from York and North Yorkshire connecting onto trains via buses.
Hull Trains, which serves Selby, was also caught up in the delays which followed as the main line was closed. Grand Central at Thirsk and Northallerton had suspended services during the planned engineering work.
A “Do Not Travel” message was issued by all operators. Sunday services may also be affected by the incident. Check before you travel.
In a statement on X, LNER said: “We are experiencing major disruption across the route. Our advice is ‘Do Not Travel’. Please defer your travel where you can.”
Wren Chambers told BBC News that he first became aware that something was wrong when a man bolted down the carriage with a bloody arm, saying “they’ve got a knife, run”.
Wren and a friend ran to the front of the train and saw a man who had collapsed on the floor. Wren said they felt “pretty scared”. They were able to get off the train unharmed.
The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed that they mobilised a large-scale response to Huntingdon Railway Station which included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, the Hazardous Area Response Team and critical care teams including the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
“We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital.” they added.
Cambridgeshire Police has asked anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch.
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the “appalling incident” is “deeply concerning” and urges people to follow the advice of local authorities.
An LNER spokesperson added later: “Our immediate concern is for the welfare of our customers and crew who are on board. We are in the process of gathering all the details we can and are liaising with British Transport Police.”
The York Central MP Rachael Maskell said: “It is absolutely devastating to learn of the attack on the train in Cambridgeshire. My thoughts are with all the passengers, the train staff and emergency services.”
Tory party chairman and MP for Thirsk and Malton, Kevin Hollinrake, described the scenes as “horrifying”. He posted on X: “My thoughts are with the victims and the emergency services responding to this incident,”
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “I am deeply concerned to hear reports of multiple people stabbed onboard an LNER train tonight. “The thoughts of everyone at RMT are with the victims, train crew and all the emergency services dealing with this unfolding incident.”
David Horne, managing director of LNER, said in a statement: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident, and our thoughts are very much with everyone involved.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they have provided to those injured. Anyone with information who hasn’t already spoken to police is urged to contact British Transport Police.
“The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority. We will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.”
