The British police confirmed the arrest of two individuals following a stabbing incident on a train in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, on Saturday, which led to injuries among “several individuals” and prompted a large-scale emergency response.
British Transport Police stated on social media, “We are currently responding to an incident on a train heading to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed,” adding that “two individuals have been detained.”
Cambridgeshire Police reported that “several people have been taken to the hospital.”
An eyewitness told a news outlet that he saw a man wielding a large knife and “blood everywhere,” as people rushed to hide in restrooms.
He added that some passengers were trampled by others who were trying to escape, while some were heard shouting “We love you.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked on social media, “The horrific incident on the train near Huntingdon is causing significant concern,” adding, “My thoughts are with all those affected, and I thank the emergency services for their response.”
Starmer advised anyone in the vicinity to “follow police guidance,” while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the arrest of two suspects.
Police arrived on the scene shortly after receiving a report around 7:40 p.m. local time (19:40 UTC), with the train being stopped in Huntingdon, a town known for its commercial markets in eastern England.
A photographer from a news agency observed dozens of emergency vehicles at the train station, with passengers being evacuated and covered with protective blankets.
Local ambulance services mounted a “large-scale response” including ambulances, helicopters, and rescue personnel.
The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed on social media, “We have taken several patients to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, the operating company, Southwestern Railways, announced the closure of all its train lines while emergency services dealt with the incident.
The company managing railway services in eastern England and Scotland urged passengers to avoid traveling, expecting “significant disruptions.”
This company serves major stations in London, Peterborough, Cambridge, York, and Edinburgh, and trains are often filled with passengers.
Paul Bristow, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, stated on social media, “We have received reports of horrifying scenes on board a train in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire,” adding, “My thoughts are with all those affected.”
Official government data indicates a steady rise in knife crimes in England and Wales since 2011.
While the UK enforces some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, Starmer has described the increase in knife-related crimes as a “national crisis,” with his Labour government working to address it.
The Home Office announced on Wednesday that approximately 60,000 sharp objects have been “seized or surrendered” in England and Wales as part of an initiative aimed at halving knife and blade-related crimes over the next decade.
Possessing a knife in public can lead to a prison sentence of up to four years, and government reports indicate an 18% decrease in knife-related homicides last year.
Two individuals were killed and others wounded in a stabbing incident at a Jewish synagogue in Manchester earlier in October, an attack that shocked the local Jewish community and the nation.