UK train stabbing: One suspect held; police hail staff’s ‘heroic’ life-saving act

United Kingdom: British police on Sunday said one suspect remains in custody following a mass stabbing on a London-bound train that left several people injured and a member of the railway staff in a life-threatening condition. Another man arrested earlier was released without charge.

One suspect remains in custody

In an evening statement, police said a 32-year-old British man was still in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. The second suspect, aged 35, was cleared after investigators determined he was not involved.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of the British Transport Police said, “Our investigation is moving at pace and we are confident we are not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.”

He added, “As would be expected, specialist detectives are looking into the background of the suspect we have in custody and the events that led up to the attack.”

Police confirmed that the incident is not being treated as an act of terror and no other suspects are sought.

Six hospitalised, one critical

Six people remained hospitalised on Sunday, including the critically injured staff member of London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates East Coast Mainline services.

Cundy praised the worker’s bravery: “Having viewed the CCTV from the train, the actions of the member of rail staff were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved people's lives.”

The other five injured passengers have since been discharged.

Panic aboard the Doncaster–London train

The stabbing occurred on the 6:25 pm train from Doncaster to London’s King’s Cross on Saturday evening. Police received emergency calls at 7:42 pm reporting scenes of panic, with passengers running through carriages and hiding in toilets.

Officers boarded the train within eight minutes of the first call and arrested two men. The suspect, from Peterborough, had boarded shortly before the train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon, around 120 km north of London.

Bloodied passengers emerged at the station as armed police and emergency responders surrounded the scene. A knife was recovered by officers.

‘Heroic’ efforts and national response

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood praised the “exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla said they were “truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the “appalling” incident as “deeply concerning.”

Across the country, police presence on trains and at major stations increased, including in London and Manchester.

Witness accounts of chaos

Passengers described terrifying scenes as a man began stabbing people on board.

Olly Foster told the BBC, “I heard people shouting ‘run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone,’ and initially thought it might have been a Halloween prank.” He realised the gravity of the situation when he found blood on his hand from a chair he had leaned on.

He added that an older man tried to shield a younger girl from the attacker, saying the incident “felt like forever” though it lasted only minutes.

Another witness told The Times there was “blood everywhere,” while some passengers hid in washrooms. Others told Sky News they saw the attacker with a large knife on the platform before being restrained by police.

Scene secured and motive under probe

Huntingdon station was cordoned off on Sunday, with forensic officers inspecting the train, now a crime scene. Police confirmed that both arrested men were British-born, following speculation on social media.

Superintendent John Loveless of the British Transport Police said, “Police boarded the train and arrested two people within eight minutes of the first 999 call.”

He added that while the motive remains unclear, “at this stage, there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident.”

Disruptions and public anxiety

LNER warned passengers of ongoing disruptions along the route. Commuters expressed concern but said they trusted authorities to prevent further incidents.

“I felt quite anxious today because we do the exact same route as the incident last night,” said Georgia Johnson, 30, a product manager travelling through King’s Cross. “But now it has happened, I trust they'll do everything they can to stop it happening again.”

Knife crime a growing concern

Knife-related offences have been on the rise in England and Wales since 2011. Despite strict gun laws, Britain continues to grapple with what Keir Starmer has termed a “national crisis.”

Recent high-profile attacks include the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport in July 2024 and a stabbing spree at a Manchester synagogue in October, which left two people dead.

Last week, a man was charged in London with murder after another daylight stabbing that killed one and injured two.