Two attempted murder arrests after train stabbings

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening.

The attack, which is not being treated as terror-related, saw a "significant" number of police officers called to Huntingdon railway station at about 19:42 GMT, where the train from Doncaster to London had made an unscheduled stop.

Eleven people needed hospital treatment and while four have been discharged, two remained in a life-threatening condition.

The arrested men, who police described as a 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, both born in the UK, were being questioned at separate police stations.

Speaking outside Huntingdon railway station, Supt John Loveless from British Transport Police said: "This is a shocking incident and my thoughts are with those who have been injured and their families.

"At 19:42 we were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 18:25 LNER service from Doncaster to King's Cross.

"Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics, where armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people within eight minutes of the first 999 call.

"We declared a major incident yesterday and counter terrorism policing were initially supporting our investigation. However, at this stage, there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident.

"At this stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

"The station remains closed, but we expect trains to be passing through the station from this morning. Passengers will see a high visibility presence of police officers at stations and on trains throughout today who are there to reassure the public and respond to any concerns."

Victims were being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

The train's previous stop was one station up the line at Peterborough, and its only other scheduled stop before the capital was due to be at Stevenage in Hertfordshire.

LNER has warned that rail disruption will continue throughout Sunday, and said passengers would be able to defer any train travel until 4 November free of charge.

Replacement bus services for people using Huntingdon were being provided at Peterborough and St Neots railway stations.

Wren Chambers told the BBC that that they first became aware that something was amiss when a man bolted down the carriage with a bloody arm, saying "they've got a knife, run".

Wren and their friend ran to the front of the train and saw a man who had collapsed on the floor. Wren said they felt "stressed and pretty scared" once they knew what was happening.

Another eyewitness, Olly Foster, described "pure panic" aboard the train, and said that when he initially heard people shouting "run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone", he believed it might have been a Halloween prank.

He estimated the attack lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes, but said it had felt like "felt like forever".

Passengers told Sky News that the stabbing started 10 minutes after the train left Peterborough, and that wounded people were seen running through the train away from somebody with a knife.

A man holding a large knife was later seen on the train platform with armed police pointing their weapons at him, one witness added - saying the man was then tasered and restrained.

Train services have been disrupted as investigations continue into the attacks

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: "The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning.

"My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response."

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty told the BBC that he attended the scene shortly after 21:00, where he says he was met with a "really significant emergency services presence".

Later, he posted on X: "This was an appalling and devastating attack.

"My thoughts are with all those victims who were injured during this heinous attack."

The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said: "I am shocked and deeply concerned by this extremely serious incident on a train which was stopped in Huntingdon this evening.

"My first thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was "deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings", but urged people to "avoid comment and speculation at this early stage".

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the "absolutely horrific attack" and said her thoughts were with all those affected, including emergency first responders.