Ten people were wounded in a stabbing incident aboard a train travelling between London and the North East of England on Saturday night, police have confirmed.
British Transport Police (BTP) said nine of the victims were in a critical condition, while one sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. No deaths have been reported.
The attack occurred on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service that was later halted at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, around 77 miles north of London, following reports of violence at approximately 7:42 p.m. GMT.
Cambridgeshire Police stated that two people were arrested at the scene, although no details of potential charges have been released.
The investigation, declared a major incident, is being led by the BTP with support from Counter Terrorism Policing, which coordinates with all 43 police forces in England and Wales and works alongside officers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey of BTP said it was too early to determine the motive. “At this stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident,” he said.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it was alerted at 7:41 p.m. and sent multiple ambulances, specialist response units, and two air ambulances. Several patients were taken to hospital for treatment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “appalling” and “deeply concerning,” adding, “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.”
LNER issued a “Do Not Travel” warning for the route, urging passengers to postpone journeys as services were suspended. The line between London and Peterborough, which includes Huntingdon, is expected to remain closed until at least 5 a.m. GMT on Sunday. Replacement buses have been deployed.
“Our priority is the welfare of customers and crew,” LNER said. “We are working closely with British Transport Police and gathering all available information.”
According to authorities, the train involved was the 6:25 p.m. GMT service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.
Cambridgeshire Police said the A1307 road, which links Huntingdon to nearby areas, was closed to allow investigators to work at the scene.