Summary

  • Ten people are in hospital, with nine believed to have life-threatening injuries, after a stabbing attack on a train travelling in Cambridgeshire

  • Two people have been arrested, Cambridgeshire Police say - pictures show officers responding to the scene at Huntingdon station

  • Police declare a "major incident" and confirm that counter-terrorism officers will support the investigation

  • Passengers were travelling on the 18:25 service from Doncaster to London King's Cross when the attack happened

  • An eyewitness tells the BBC they saw a man bolting down the carriage with a bloody arm, saying "they've got a knife, run", and a man collapsed on the floor

  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the "appalling incident" in Cambridgeshire is "deeply concerning" and urges people to follow the advice of local authorities

Emergency services rush to scene of Cambridgeshire train incident

Live Reporting

Edited by Gavin Butler and Jay Savage

  1. Older man 'blocked' attacker from stabbing younger girl, says eyewitness

    An eyewitness who was on the train at the time of the incident says passengers were left in "pure panic" as bleeding victims called out for help.

    Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting "run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone", and believed it might have been a night-after-Halloween prank.

    Within minutes, people started pushing through the carriage, and Foster noticed his hand was "covered in blood" as there was "blood all over the chair" he had leaned on.

    An older man "blocked" the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with a gash on his head and neck, Foster said. Passengers around him used jackets to try to staunch the bleeding.

    He added that the only thing people in his carriage could use against the attacker was a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, leaving them "praying" that he would not enter the carriage.

    Although it lasted 10 to 15 minutes in total, Foster says the incident "felt like forever".

    Eyewitness Olly Foster speaking to the BBC after the train stabbing attack

  2. BBC speaks to Huntingdon MP at scene of train stabbing

    Huntington MP Ben Obese-Jecty told the BBC that he arrived at the scene of the Cambridgeshire train stabbing just after 21:00, where he was met with a "really significant emergency services presence".

    He said that the attacks aboard the train took place after it left Peterborough station.

  3. Police confirm they used, then rescinded, code word for terror attack

    Daniel Sandford
    UK/Home Affairs Correspondent

    British Transport Police have confirmed to the BBC that those responding to a mass stabbing on a train near Huntingdon at one point declared "Plato", which is the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a "marauding terror attack".

    This declaration was later rescinded, police said.

    We reported earlier that police have now declared a "major incident", and the investigation is being supported by counter-terrorism officers.

  4. A recap on the past six hours

    Police officers and a dog handler work on the platform alongside an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon.AFP via Getty Images

    For those who are just joining us, it's been almost six hours since police first received reports of multiple stabbings aboard the 18:25 service from Doncaster to King's Cross.

    After receiving that call at 19:42, a large number of emergency responders attended the scene at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire, where the train made an unscheduled stop.

    Police have since confirmed that nine people are in hospital with life-threatening injuries. A tenth person is being treated in hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

    Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, and are currently in police custody.

    The investigation is being supported by counter-terrorism officers, and police say that trains are still not running in the area. There are also a number of road closures that remain in place.

    What we don't know:

    • Victims of the attack have still not been identified, which is likely in part due to police making sure their families have been informed
    • The identities of the two people who were arrested in connection with the attack have also not been released

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates, as the situation continues to unfold.

  5. 'This is a shocking incident' - police

    In an update from British Transport Police, Chief Superintendent Chris Casey called the stabbing attack a "shocking incident", but said he was unable to speculate on the cause.

    "Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time," he said, adding that trains were not currently running in the area and road closures would continue.

    As we reported earlier, ten people have been taken to hospital, with nine of those patients suffering "life-threatening injuries".

    Police said that they have declared a "major incident" and the investigation is being supported by counter-terrorism officers as they work to establish a motive.

    "It could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further," the chief superintendent said, before thanking the public for their "patience and co-operation".

  6. Nine people with life-threatening injuries, police say
    Breaking

    We've just received an update from British Transport Police on the stabbing incident in Cambridgeshire.

    Ten people are in hospital, with nine believed to have life-threatening injuries, following the stabbing aboard the 18:25 service from Doncaster to King's Cross, police say.

    There have been no fatalities, the statement adds.

    Police have declared a "major incident", and confirmed that counter-terrorism officers would be supporting the investigation.

  7. Passengers put on buses to London, reports say

    Two people walk towards a busPA Media

    A number of passengers who were aboard the train were placed on buses bound for London just before 23:00, according to local media.

    The Peterborough Telegraph reports that people were bussed out of the station amid a large emergency service presence.

    Footage captured from the ground shows people wearing foil blankets and boarding coaches.

  8. Witness saw passengers running down platform bleeding

    Jon Ironmonger
    BBC Look East

    I've been speaking to a man who was standing on a platform at Huntingdon station as the train approached at around 20:00.

    London Underground worker Dean McFarlane tells me he saw the train pull in with a passenger onboard bleeding.

    McFarlane says that on arrival, he saw multiple people start running down the platform bleeding, with one man in a white shirt "completely covered in blood".

    He says he grabbed people and told them to leave the station, and tried to assist passengers who were having panic attacks.

  9. Photos show emergency response at Huntingdon station

    We are now getting more pictures from the scene in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where a significant emergency response is still underway.

    We still don't know how many people have been injured in the incident, but police confirmed that "a number of people" have been taken to hospital.

    Police officers and members of the Emergency services work alongside an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station.AFP via Getty Images
    Armed Police officers stand with members of the emergency services outside Huntingdon Station.AFP via Getty Images
    Emergency vehicles and police officers at the scene at Huntingdon train station in Cambridgeshire, after a number of people were stabbed on a train.Chris Radburn/PA Wire
    Paramedics medical equipment is pictured within a police cordon outside Huntingdon StationAFP via Getty Images

  10. Man bolted down carriage with bloody arm, witness says

    We can bring you some eyewitness testimony from a person who was on the train that stopped in Huntingdon following the stabbing incident.

    Wren Chambers 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.

    They were able to get off the train unharmed.

  11. Train involved was travelling from Doncaster to King's Cross

    Daniel Sandford
    Home affairs correspondent

    Police officers and members of the emergency services search the track beneath an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station.AFP via Getty Images

    We can bring you some new information now on the train service on which this incident took place.

    British Transport Police say the train involved was the 18:25 service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.

  13. BBC Verify

    Watch: Emergency services rush to scene of incident

    Emergency services rush to scene of Cambridgeshire train incident

    BBC Verify has authenticated a video of the aftermath of the stabbing incident near Huntingdon.

    The video, filmed on a bridge on Brampton Road overlooking Huntingdon's railway station, shows a stationary train while a number of police officers run down the platform.

  14. Police say two arrested, 'number of people' in hospital

    We've just received a statement from Cambridge Police, who confirm that at 19:39 local time they received reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train.

    "Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital," the statement says.

    "The incident remains ongoing, and the A1307 has been closed as you approach the town centre."

  15. 'Absolutely horrific attack,' Badenoch says

    We're now hearing from Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch, who says in a post on X she is "deeply disturbed by the reports emerging from Huntingdon".

    This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected including the emergency responders at the scene."

    Kemi Badenoch, Conservative party leader

  16. Major disruption to train network

    LNER has urged passengers to cancel or defer travel where they can, but says a limited number of services are running for those who were already travelling.

    Passengers are able to use their tickets on the following services without incurring extra cost.

    • Avanti West Coast between London Euston, Manchester
    • TransPennine Express between Manchester, Leeds and York/Newcastle
    • ScotRail between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley
    • Northern between Carlisle and Newcastle
    • East Midlands Railway (EMR) between London St Pancras, Leicester and Sheffield
    • CrossCountry between Sheffield, Doncaster/Leeds, York and Newcastle/Edinburgh
    • Greater Anglia between London Liverpool Street, Stevenage and Peterborough
    • Great Northern and Thameslink between London Kings Cross, Stevenage and Peterborough

    LNER notes that other services are likely to be busy, and they are working to get trains moving again "as quickly as possible".

  17. First pictures show large police presence at train station

    Pictures are now coming in of the scene at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where police are responding to reports of multiple people being stabbed on a train.

    Police are seen running up the platformTikTok/@qonquest
    Emergency services gather at the sceneTikTok/@qonquest

  18. What we know (and don't know) about the incident

    Jake Lapham
    Live reporter

    If you're just joining us, we're bringing you live updates as police respond to a stabbing incident in Cambridgeshire.

    Here's what we know so far:

    • Multiple people have been stabbed on a train in Cambridgeshire
    • The train was stopped at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
    • Two men have been arrested, police say
    • A number of people have been taken to hospital, the local ambulance service says
    • There are major disruptions to the rail network in the area

    Here's what we don't know

    • How many people were stabbed, and how serious their injuries are
    • The identity of those arrested
    • If there have been any fatalities

    This is a quickly developing situation - stay with us as we work to bring you the latest.

  19. Home secretary receiving regular updates on incident

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has just posted on X, saying she is "deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings".

    My thoughts go out to all those affected. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody. I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage."

    Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary

  20. Multiple patients transported to hospital - East of England Ambulance Service
    Breaking

    James Hore
    BBC News

    We've just received a statement from a spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service.

    They confirm that they received a call at 19:39 GMT to reports that "multiple people had been stabbed on a train".

    “We mobilised a large-scale response to Huntingdon Railway Station which included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, our Hazardous Area Response Team and critical care teams including the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

    “We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital. Further updates will be issued by British Transport Police.”