Brave Rail Employee Receives Critical Wounds Amid Multiple Stabbing Attack on High-Speed Train
A brave railway employee who stepped in to save passengers during a multiple knife incident on a express train has sustained critical injuries, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Details of the Terrifying Incident
Surveillance footage reportedly shows the employee trying to stop the assailant as the train traveled between Peterborough and another station in the county. Witnesses recounted a terrifying 14-minute period after the train left Peterborough, with injured passengers fleeing through carriages.
The suspect, a 32-year-old British national from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Police announced a major incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in central London.
Crisis Response and Aftermath
The event on the weekend resulted in 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five people have since been discharged from medical care.
A witness filmed the individual waving a large knife and being subdued with a stun device as he faced police on the station. He was allegedly heard yelling, "End my life, kill me."
“This awful event has created broad consequences. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the courageous employee of train personnel whose family are being supported by trained officers,” stated a senior law enforcement officer.
Labor Reaction and Appeals for Measures
Rail unions were swift to praise staff and demand increased action. A union official said he would be “seeking urgent meetings with government, train companies and police to ensure that we have the strongest available assistance, tools and robust protocols in operation”.
Another union leader urged the train operator and government “to act quickly to review security, to help the impacted workers, and to ensure that no incident like this happens again”.
Driver Commended for Quick Thinking
The operator who stopped the train at Huntingdon was described as being “deeply affected” but “good”, and has been praised by union officials for doing “precisely what was needed”.
“The driver didn’t halt the service in the middle of two stops where it’s obviously challenging for the first responders to reach, but he continued traveling until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was almost waiting,” explained a union representative.
Additional Information
Authorities said they received the initial distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.
An witness recounted at first thinking if the event was a holiday prank, but quickly realized from individuals' expressions that it was serious.
Authorities have stated there is nothing to suggest the incident was a terrorist attack and have requested the public to provide with any additional information.
Rail operations on the impacted line are anticipated to experience disruption until the following day, with passengers advised to postpone their journeys where possible.
Anyone with details that could assist the inquiry are asked to reach authorities by sending a message a designated number with a case code.