Knife attack on UK train injures 11 passengers
Police treat incident as attempted murder, not terrorism
British police said a knife attack on a London-bound passenger train is being treated as an attempted murder case rather than a terrorist incident, and two British men have been arrested. The attack occurred aboard the 18:25 London North Eastern Railway service from Doncaster to King’s Cross and prompted an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after a man reportedly began attacking passengers with a large knife. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of commuters barricading compartments, activating emergency alarms and trying to subdue the assailant; online video showed officers storming a carriage and tasering a suspect on the platform.
At least 11 passengers were taken to hospitals, with nine reported as seriously injured; police later said four had been discharged and two still had life‑threatening injuries. Emergency services declared a major incident and deployed multiple air ambulances and dozens of ambulances to hospitals in Cambridge, Peterborough and London. The area around Huntingdon station was cordoned off for hours while forensic teams worked and investigators gathered evidence.
Counterterrorism officers were consulted early in the probe but investigators say initial findings do not point to organized terrorism. Authorities are exploring other motives, including possible mental‑health issues or personal grievances. Forensic and criminal investigators continue to question the two suspects and examine the sequence of events on the train.
Senior officials urged restraint and caution in public commentary. The prime minister described the attack as an “appalling act of violence” and pledged a review of rail security; the interior minister appealed for the public to avoid speculation online, citing concerns after social media-fuelled unrest following a separate 2024 incident. The king expressed shock and gratitude to emergency responders.
Rail services between Peterborough and London were disrupted and additional police patrols increased across the national rail network. Passengers praised acts of bravery by those who intervened during the attack, and authorities warned further details will be released as questioning and forensic work progress while the investigation remains ongoing.
