Terrified train passengers were forced to hide in a toilet as several people were stabbed in a knife rampage, witnesses have said.
Two men have been arrested following reports of multiple stabbings on a train near Huntingdon at around 7.39pm.
Thirty officers rushed to the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train after it stopped in the Cambridgeshire town. Several people have been hospitalised.
The attack is believed to have begun shortly after the train left Peterborough station, with travellers hiding in toilets as one suspect carried a ‘big knife’, witnesses have said.
Videos have emerged on social media showing police cars racing to the scene as armed officers raced to the platform.
Passenger Gavin recalled several people moving through the train, and hearing one say, ‘They’ve got a knife. I have been stabbed.’
They were making their way through to get away from the suspect,’ he told Sky News. ‘They were extremely bloodied.
‘That person, when we pulled in, they were basically on the floor, we couldn’t progress further down the train because that person ended up collapsing.’
He added: ‘We were ushered out of the station from the platform and there were multiple people who had been stabbed who were making their way down.
‘But the suspect came off the train as well, so while we were being told come out of the station, the suspect was running rampant as well.
‘No one knows the reason why.’
Train operator LNER have issued a ‘do not travel’ warning to passengers, saying ‘disruption is expected until the end of the day’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the ‘appalling’ incident near Huntingdon as ‘deeply concerning’.
‘My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,’ he said in a statement.
Pictured: Police response after several people were stabbed on a train in the area of Huntingdon today
Pictured: Armed forces rushing to the scene where several people on a train travelling through Cambridgeshire were stabbed
Travellers reportedly hid in toilets as one suspect carried a ‘big knife’ amid the attack, witnesses said
The A1307 in the direction of the town centre has also been closed as the incident remains ongoing, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said.
British Transport Police issued the above statement via X earlier this evening
‘Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.’
Elsewhere, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the stabbings.
‘My thoughts go out to all those affected. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody,’ she said.
‘I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.’
Secretary of State Heidi Alexander echoed her colleagues’ messages while adding that she was being updated on the matter and is working closely with the BTP.
Chris Philip, the shadow Home Secretary, said: ‘Horrific scenes in Huntingdon, in what seems to be a brutal mass attack by two perpetrators,’ he said.
‘My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding.
‘The police and government should provide an update on what happened and who has been arrested as soon as possible.’
Local Labour councillor, Alex Bulat, voices her sympathies for those affected amid ongoing reports.
‘Really worrying,’ she wrote to Facebook, ‘My thoughts are with the victims and their families.’
Armed officers rushed to the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train following reports of multiple stabbings at around 7.39pm this evening
Two men were arrested after the train stopped at Huntingdon, and several people have been taken to the hospital
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty also said via X: ‘I am aware of the incident and am trying to establish further information.
‘My thoughts are with the victims and those involved.’
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: ‘We are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed.
‘Officers are in attendance alongside @CambsCops and two people have been arrested.
‘Further updates will be shared here.’
An East England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 7.38pm to reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train.
‘We mobilised a large-scale response to Huntingdon Railway Station which included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, our Hazardous Area Response Team and critical care teams including the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and Magpas Air Ambulance
‘We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital.’
Train firm LNER said via X: ‘Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident at Huntingdon all lines are blocked.
‘Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
‘Please check before you travel.’
Elsewhere, several train routes have been impacted, including Hull Trains to Hull and LNER trains to Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, and Harrogate.
Thameslink trains between Horsham, Kings Cross and Peterborough have also been affected.