LONDON (AP) – A stabbing incident on a speeding train in eastern England has thrown routine rail travel into chaos.
Two men have been arrested in connection with Saturday night’s attack, which left nearly a dozen people injured.
Police are still trying to determine the motive, but say it does not appear to be an act of terrorism.
Here’s what you need to know:
the train was heading to london
The train departed from Doncaster in northern England at 6:25 p.m. and headed for King’s Cross station in London. Halfway through the two-hour journey, police had just left the Peterborough stop when police began receiving reports of a person being stabbed inside the vehicle.
Passengers testified that panicked passengers, some covered in blood, rushed through the train’s aisles to escape the violent vehicles.
Ollie Foster said he heard someone shouting “Run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone” and at first thought it was a Halloween prank, but then touched the train seat and noticed there was blood on his hands.
“Everyone was really pushing behind us and we were really panicking,” Foster told the BBC. He said he saw several people bleeding profusely from their wounds.
Police responded within minutes.
British Transport Police, which is responsible for guarding the railway, said it received the first emergency call at 7.42pm.
Within minutes, dozens of police officers and paramedics, including those specializing in firearms, arrived at the train station in Huntingdon, a town about 120 kilometers north of London.
Shortly after, the train made an unscheduled stop at the station and passengers rushed onto the platform as armed police rushed toward the train.
two suspects were arrested
British Transport Police said that within eight minutes of the first emergency call, officers from the local force, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, boarded the train and detained the two men.
Witnesses said officers used a Taser to subdue one suspect, who was carrying a large knife.
Police said both suspects were British-born British nationals, a 32-year-old black man and a 35-year-old Caribbean man. They were being questioned at separate police stations on Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder.
Both victims’ lives are in danger
According to police, 10 people were taken to nearby hospitals and 11 people went there on their own.
Nine people were initially classified as having life-threatening injuries. But on Sunday morning, police said only two people remained in life-threatening condition. Four of the injured have been released from the hospital.
Police are investigating the motive, but say it is not terrorism.
Police Inspector John Loveless said counter-terrorism police were initially called in to assist with the investigation, but “at this stage there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident”.
He said the investigation was being led by British Transport Police and said: “It would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident.”
On Sunday, the train remained at Huntingdon station, with police officers in forensic gear on duty on the platform accompanied by police dogs.
Leaders express sympathy
Senior politicians and members of the royal family expressed concern and sympathy for the victims, their friends and families.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood paid tribute to the “extraordinary bravery of the train’s staff and passengers”.
King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and shocked”.
The royal couple said in a statement: “Our deepest sympathies and thoughts go out to all those affected and their loved ones.” “A special thank you to the emergency services who responded to this horrific incident.”
