Nine people have suffered life-threatening injuries after a series of stabbings on a train near Cambridge in eastern England. Two men were arrested over what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “terrible incident”.
British police in charge of public transport security reported that counter-terrorism police are supporting the investigation while working to establish all the circumstances and motives of the incident.
Code word used for “mobile terrorist attack”
Police also confirmed that the word “Plato”, a national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to what could be a “moving terrorist attack”, was used. That declaration was later retracted and no motive for the attack was revealed.
“Mobile terrorist attack” means a type of terrorist attack in which attackers randomly and moving through city streets or public spaces attack multiple targets in different locations, often combining shootings, stabbings, carjackings, or explosions.
“We are carrying out urgent inquiries to establish what happened and it may be some time before we are able to confirm anything further. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of the incident,” said Chief Inspector Chris Casey of Britain’s Public Transport Safety Police (BTP).
Witness: I saw someone running and warning others that he had been stabbed
Cambridgeshire Police said armed police attended the scene after receiving reports of the incident. “Armed officers arrived at the scene and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested,” the police said.
East of England Ambulance Service launched a “major operation” over the incident. A spokesman said a number of ambulances, tactical commanders and their hazardous area response team were at the scene. “We can confirm that we have transported more patients to the hospital,” he added.
One witness who was on the train told how he saw someone moving through the carriage and warning others: “They have a knife, I’ve been stabbed.”
The witness told Sky News that the man was “extremely bloody”. “That person ended up collapsing on the floor. She was taken to an ambulance almost immediately,” he pointed out. Other witnesses also say that wounded people ran through the train, escaping from the knife-wielding assailant.
“Later, armed police were seen pointing their weapons at a man standing on the platform with a large knife,” said one witness. The man was then disabled with an electric shocker and tied up.
Starmer: Terrible incident
Police said the attack took place at around 6.25pm yesterday on a train traveling from Doncaster to London’s King’s Cross, shortly after the train left Peterborough station.
In a post on Xu, Prime Minister Starmer said: “The terrible incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected and I thank the emergency services for their response. Everyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty said: “It is very comforting to see such a quick and efficient response from the emergency services. I have simply never seen such a large response from police, fire and EMS to an incident.”
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply saddened” by the news of the stabbings. “I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage,” she noted.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the UK’s main east coast rail lines, confirmed the incident had taken place on one of its trains and urged passengers not to travel due to “major disruption”. Huntingdon station was closed and all lines blocked.
(TYPE/Source: Index.hr/Photo: X)
