LONDON: Ten people were injured, with nine sustaining life-threatening injuries, after a mass stabbing erupted on a London-bound train on Saturday evening. British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed the incident occurred shortly after the train, traveling from Doncaster, departed Peterborough station around 7:30 pm local time. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.
The busy route, frequently packed with travelers heading to London’s King’s Cross station, became the scene of chaos and terror, according to passengers who managed to escape.
Witnesses Describe Scene of Panic and Blood
Eyewitness accounts detail a harrowing struggle as passengers scrambled to find safety from the attack. One witness described the grim reality to The Times, recalling a man brandishing a large knife and stating simply: “There was blood everywhere.”
The witness said that the panic led to further chaos, with some passengers getting “stamped on by others” while trying to run away. Many sought refuge in the train’s lavatories.
Another chilling detail emerged as the witness recounted hearing shouts of “We love you” during the unfolding violence. Separately, an eyewitness speaking to Sky News described seeing a victim moving down the carriage, pleading, “They have got a knife; I have been stabbed.”
Official Response and Investigation
The British Transport Police has launched an urgent inquiry, supported by counterterrorism police, to establish the full circumstances and motive behind the attack.
British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Chris Casey acknowledged the complexity of the scene, stating, “We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.” He stressed that it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the incident at this early stage.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly condemned the attack, calling the mass stabbing an “appalling incident.” In a post on X, he extended his thoughts to those affected and thanked the emergency services for their swift and decisive response.
