Passengers aboard a train where multiple individuals were stabbed were reportedly preparing to protect themselves using a Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottle, according to a witness.
Authorities indicated that a knife attack occurred on the train in Huntingdon, resulting in 10 individuals being hospitalized, with nine sustaining life-threatening wounds. The incident transpired on the 6.25 pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos, mentioning the presence of “blood everywhere” as people were trampled in the rush to flee. Some passengers sought refuge in the train’s restrooms.
In an interview with the BBC, Olly Foster shared that passengers were left with only a Jack Daniel’s bottle for defense. Foster expressed the tense situation, stating, “We had a Jack Daniel’s bottle between us and that was it… so we’re sitting there with one Jack Daniel’s bottle looking down this carriage, praying someone doesn’t walk down with a knife or a gun.”
Initially mistaking the incident for a Halloween prank, Foster also highlighted the bravery of an older man who intervened to protect a younger girl from the attacker, sustaining injuries to his head and neck in the process.
The British Transport Police (BTP) declared a major incident, briefly invoking the national code word “Plato” used for responding to potential terror attacks before retracting the designation. Video footage circulated on social media captured a significant police presence, including armed officers converging on the stationary train at Huntingdon station.
Forensic officers in protective gear, together with a police dog, were observed on the platform. The assault is believed to have commenced shortly after the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train departed from Peterborough station.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey expressed shock over the incident, emphasizing concern for the injured individuals and their families. Urgent investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack, with transportation disruptions and road closures in place as part of the response efforts.