One passenger aboard the Huntingdon train mistook a mass stabbing incident for a Halloween prank initially. Police responded to the Cambridgeshire station at approximately 7:40 pm, leading to the arrest of two individuals after 10 people were hospitalized, with nine facing life-threatening injuries. Eyewitness testimonies are now shedding light on the harrowing events.
Olly Foster, a witness on the train journey from Doncaster to London King’s Cross, shared how he initially thought the attack was a Halloween-related prank. He recounted hearing cries of “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone,” which reinforced his initial assumption.
Foster described the chaotic scene where passengers hurried through the carriage, discovering blood on his hand and chair. An older man intervened to shield a young girl from the attacker, sustaining injuries to his head and neck in the process, according to witness Wren Chambers.
Passengers on the train used their clothing to help stop the bleeding of the injured man. Foster expressed that the ordeal felt prolonged, with a sense of panic prevailing as passengers disembarked the train, some visibly covered in blood.
Reflecting on the incident, Foster mentioned the surreal nature of the experience and expressed uncertainty about future train travels. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood both expressed deep concern over the incident, extending thoughts to those affected and acknowledging the emergency services’ swift response.