London: Two British nationals remain in police custody after a horrifying stabbing attack on a high-speed train in the United Kingdom left ten people injured, two of them in life-threatening condition. Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the incident.
The violent episode unfolded on Saturday evening aboard a London-bound train travelling from Doncaster to King’s Cross. The train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after what eyewitnesses described as a “bloody rampage” just minutes after leaving Peterborough.
British Transport Police (BTP) declared the situation a “major incident” and initially received support from counterterrorism officers. However, BTP Superintendent John Loveless confirmed on Sunday that the investigation no longer involves Counter Terrorism Policing.
“At this stage, there is nothing to suggest this is a terrorist incident. We continue to work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this attack,” Loveless said outside Huntingdon station, which remains cordoned off as a crime scene.
According to police, a 32-year-old black British man and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent—both UK-born—were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Emergency services, including armed police, responded within minutes of receiving distress calls around 7:42 p.m. “Armed officers boarded the train and detained both suspects within eight minutes of the first 999 call,” Loveless said.
Ten victims were taken to hospital, while another person later sought treatment independently. Initially, nine passengers were believed to be critically injured, but four have since been discharged. Two victims remain in life-threatening condition.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood praised the “swift and professional” response of the BTP, Cambridgeshire Police, Fire and Rescue, and the East of England Ambulance Service.
“We now know this attack is not being treated as terrorism, and that two British-born nationals have been arrested,” Mahmood stated, adding that she is receiving regular updates from the police.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla said they were “truly appalled and shocked” by the “dreadful knife attack.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the “appalling incident,” urging the public to cooperate with police investigations.
The train operator, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), said services will be disrupted until at least the end of Sunday.
Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of chaos, describing “blood everywhere” and passengers screaming as they scrambled for safety, with some locking themselves in toilets. One passenger initially thought the horror unfolding might be a Halloween prank before realising the gravity of the situation.
Police continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.
With PTI inputs