British police have arrested two men following a horrifying knife attack aboard a London-bound train that left 11 people injured and sent waves of shock across the United Kingdom.
Authorities said the incident occurred around 8 p.m. on November 1, when reports emerged of multiple stabbings aboard a train traveling from Doncaster, in northeast England, to London’s King’s Cross station. The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon, a market town near Cambridge, where officers swiftly boarded and detained two suspects on suspicion of attempted murder.
According to the British Transport Police (BTP), ten of the victims were rushed to local hospitals by ambulance, while another later admitted themselves for treatment. Early reports indicated that nine passengers had sustained life-threatening injuries. By Saturday morning, police confirmed that four victims had been discharged from hospital care, while two remained in critical condition.
Passengers described a terrifying ordeal that unfolded in just minutes. Olly Foster, one of the passengers, told the BBC that he initially mistook the commotion for a Halloween prank before realizing the severity of the situation.
“I put my hand on this chair … and then I look at my hand, and it’s covered in blood. And then I look at the chair, and there’s blood all over the chair. And then I look ahead and there’s blood on all the chairs,” Foster said.
He recounted that one man attempted to shield a young girl from being stabbed, while others in the carriage used a bottle of whiskey to defend themselves. “It lasted 10 to 15 minutes but felt like forever,” he added.
Superintendent John Loveless of the British Transport Police praised the rapid response of officers and paramedics, noting that both suspects a 32-year-old and a 35-year-old man, both British nationals were arrested within minutes of the train’s emergency stop.
“There is nothing to suggest this was a terrorist incident,” Loveless said. “We continue to work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this attack. It would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause.”
The Huntingdon train station remained closed throughout Saturday as investigators conducted forensic examinations, though train services were allowed to pass through the area without stopping.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the mass stabbing “appalling” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, expressing sympathy for those affected and gratitude to emergency responders.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police,” Starmer wrote.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla also issued a statement through Buckingham Palace, saying they were “shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack” and sent “their deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.”
Authorities have yet to release a motive for the attack. Forensic experts and detectives continued their work throughout the night, interviewing witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage from the train and nearby stations.
The stabbings mark one of the most serious acts of violence on the British rail network in recent years, renewing debate over safety aboard public transport and the country’s broader struggle with knife crime.
Police have urged anyone with video footage or additional information about the incident to contact the British Transport Police immediately.