London: Nine people are being treated for life-threatening injuries following a series of stabbings on a train near Cambridge in eastern England, according to police. Authorities stated that two suspects have been arrested and that counterterrorism officers are assisting with the investigation, as reported by local media.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as an “appalling incident”.
The British Transport Police (BTP) announced that counterterrorism police are assisting with their investigation as they work to determine the full circumstances and motivations behind the incident, according to a report from The Guardian.
In a statement, BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said, “We are conducting urgent inquiries to establish what has happened, and it may take some time before we can confirm any further information.”
“At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.”
Armed police from Cambridgeshire Constabulary arrived at Huntingdon station after receiving reports of an incident at 7:39 p.m. local time on Saturday. “Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested.”
The East of England ambulance service has sent a “large-scale response” to the incident. A spokesperson said several ambulances, tactical commanders, and its hazardous area response team were at the site of the incident. It further said, “We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to the hospital.”
The police reported that the attack occurred on the train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross at 6:25 PM (local time), shortly after the LNER train departed Peterborough station.
PM Starmer described the incident on a train near Huntingdon as “deeply concerning” and expressed his gratitude to the emergency services for their response.
In a statement shared on X, he said: “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. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her deep sadness regarding the stabbings in Huntingdon and extended her sympathies to those affected by the incident.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings in Huntingdon. 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,” Mahmood posted on X.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates services on the East Coast Mainline in the UK, reported that an incident occurred on one of its trains and has advised passengers not to travel due to “major disruption.” National Rail has announced that Huntingdon station is closed, with all lines blocked. LNER anticipates that services in the area will continue to be disrupted until Monday.
“We are experiencing major disruption across the LNER route. Emergency services are dealing with an incident at Huntingdon station; all lines are blocked. Our advice is ‘Do Not Travel’. Please defer your travel where you can.”
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