Police in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, arrested two men in connection to the stabbing of multiple people on a train near Cambridge in eastern England on Saturday, according to a post on X by the British Transport Police.
“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 police said in a statement.
Why It Matters
The UK remains on high alert following a high-profile stabbing at a synagogue in Manchester on October 2. The attack, which the police treated as terrorism, was carried out by a British citizen of Syrian descent.
What To Know
Cambridgeshire police responded to a call at 7:39 p.m. local time after reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train. Passengers told police that the stabbing started around 10 minutes after the train had left the station at Peterborough.
Victims and passengers fled the train when it arrived at Huntingdon where armed police intercepted one of the men and apprehended him after he was shot with a taser, according to Sky News. He was seen carrying a large knife as he departed the train. It remains unclear what connection the second man arrested by police had to the incident.
One witness said that between six and eight people had been stabbed, while another estimated as many as a dozen had been attacked.
British outlet Sky News reported that between 20 and 30 emergency vehicles flooded a train station to help the victims. All rail line around the station have been blocked as police and emergency personnel handle the situation.
The East of England Ambulance Service deployed three air ambulances to take the victims to hospital, where they have received care.
The two men have not yet been identified, and the state of the victims, and the total number of them, remains unknown at this time.
Local Member of Parliament (MP) Ben Obese-Jecty, told Sky News that the station coincidentally was very close to the Cambridgeshire police headquarters, which allowed for a swift response by a “staggering” number of police officers.
Obese-Jecty said it was “very reassuring to see such a quick and effective response from the emergency services.”
What People Are Saying
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote 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. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
Leader of the British Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch wrote on X: “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.”
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood wrote on X: “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.”
What Happens Next?
The investigation into the stabbings continues.
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