On Saturday evening, a train traveling from Doncaster to London was involved in a large-scale knife attack, leaving 11 passengers injured, with two of them currently in critical condition. British authorities stated on Sunday that there are no indications suggesting this was a terrorist attack, and two British men have been arrested.
Following the incident, British counter-terrorism police assisted in conducting preliminary investigations. British Prime Minister Stamer described the attack as “shocking” and expressed deep concern.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her sorrow and urged the public not to speculate about the incident.
British Transport Police Officer John Loveless told the media on Sunday, “There is currently no evidence to suggest that this was a terrorist attack.”
Loveless stated that two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, a 32-year-old Black British citizen and a 35-year-old Caribbean British citizen, both born in the UK.
“We are still working to ascertain the full circumstances and motives of this incident. Speculating on the reasons for the event is not appropriate at this time,” he said.
At 6:25 pm local time on Saturday, a high-speed London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train departed from the northern city of Doncaster, bound for London.
According to BBC reports, multiple passengers stated that at least one knife-wielding individual began attacking people on the train after it passed through Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Police received the first emergency call from passengers on the train at 7:39 pm on Saturday, while the British Transport Police received a report at 7:42 pm.
The train made an impromptu stop at Huntingdon, which is about a 15-minute drive from Peterborough.
The entire incident lasted approximately 10 to 15 minutes according to estimates, with some passengers noting that it occurred towards the rear of the train.
Armed police boarded the train and apprehended the two men. Witnesses reported that law enforcement used a stun gun on one of the knife-wielding suspects.
Meanwhile, a significant number of emergency response personnel, including air ambulance services, rushed to the scene.
Police questioned passengers who were unharmed, with some of them boarding a bus heading towards London.
Local councilor Ben Obese-Jecty told BBC that when he arrived at the scene around 9 pm on Saturday, he saw about 10 ambulances, several fire trucks, and “over 20 police cars.”
As of Sunday morning, the station remains closed, with police and forensic tents still visible at the scene.