Ten People Hospitalised After Train Stabbings Near Huntingdon – Investigation Supported by Counter Terror Units
Ten people have been taken to hospital after a mass stabbing aboard a train travelling from Doncaster to London Kings Cross near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening. Nine of the injured are described as having life threatening injuries. Two suspects have been arrested, and counter terrorism police are assisting the investigation.
Twelve hours after the armed police intervention that ended the incident, no further official updates have been released about the motive or condition of the victims. Investigators continue to work at the scene, and both Cambridgeshire Police and British Transport Police have confirmed that information will be shared “as soon as it is appropriate to do so.”
Incident details
The attack occurred on the 18:25 LNER service from Doncaster shortly after it passed Peterborough station and before reaching Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire Constabulary received a 999 call at 19:39 local time and responded with armed units to the stationary train at Huntingdon station, where two men were arrested. British Transport Police declared the event a major incident and stated that while Operation Plato — the national code for marauding terror attacks — was briefly activated, the declaration was later rescinded.
What witnesses say
Passengers described pure chaos as blood spattered carriages, people hiding in toilets, and screams of “I have been stabbed” echoed through the train. One attacker was seen wielding a large knife before armed officers tasered and arrested him shortly after the train arrived in Huntingdon.
Current status and response
LNER has advised passengers to avoid all travel on the East Coast Main Line until Monday due to major disruption. Huntingdon station remains closed while forensic teams and police conduct investigations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident “deeply concerning,” writing 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.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings in Huntingdon. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage while police continue their work.”
Security and policy implications
The scale and nature of the attack, multiple casualties in a confined transport environment raises urgent questions about safety on UK rail networks. While police have not yet classified the incident as terrorism, the involvement of counter terrorism units indicates the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the event.
The incident comes amid growing concern over knife crime, rail security, and the challenge of policing complex transport systems. Calls are emerging for tighter screening, more armed presence on trains, and closer collaboration between rail operators and national security services.
What to watch next
- The condition of the injured victims and whether fatalities will be confirmed.
- The motives of the two arrested suspects whether ideological, criminal, or otherwise.
- The duration of travel disruption and how rail operators manage recovery and service restoration.
- Government statements on rail security policy, investment in policing, and transport infrastructure resilience.
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Author: Fidelis News Staff Writer | Date: 2 November 2025
