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London Train Stabbing Not Terror-Related, Two British Nationals Arrested
LONDON – A harrowing knife attack on a train Saturday night, which left 11 individuals injured, is not being treated as a terrorist incident, according to authorities. Two British nationals have been apprehended on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident.
Of the nine people initially reported to have life-threatening injuries, several have seen their conditions improve, with four already discharged from the hospital. However, two individuals remain in critical condition, Superintendent John Loveless confirmed in a Sunday morning update.
“At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident,” Loveless stated, adding that the two suspects, aged 32 and 35, are both British-born and are currently undergoing questioning at separate police stations. Their identities have not yet been publicly released.
Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commended the emergency services for “saving lives” and lauded the “exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train,” which operates between London and northern England. She further confirmed on X that the attack is not being treated as terrorism and that two British nationals have been arrested.
Police are working diligently “to establish at pace the full circumstances and the motivations that have led to this incident,” Loveless explained.
Emergency responders were dispatched to Huntingdon train station, northwest of Cambridge, following reports of a stabbing on a London-bound train at 7:42 p.m. GMT (3:42 p.m.
ET). The train made an unscheduled stop to facilitate the emergency response, as captured in social media footage from the scene.
Videos posted online depicted passengers fleeing the station, with one individual appearing to have blood on their arm, and crowds gathered outside amidst blaring sirens and numerous emergency vehicles.
Cambridgeshire Police, who patrol the area, swiftly arrested two individuals at the scene. “Within eight minutes of a 999 call being made, two men were in police custody,” Loveless added.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson detailed a comprehensive response, including multiple ambulances, tactical commanders, a hazardous response team, and two helicopters to transport “multiple patients” to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
A significant police presence remained at Huntingdon on Sunday morning, with several roads around the station closed. Forensic tents were set up in the parking lot, and the train where the stabbings occurred remained parked on the platform.
British Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed to Sky News that the nation’s threat level remains “substantial,” indicating a future terror attack is considered likely.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “appalling” and “deeply concerning,” reiterating his previous characterization of knife crime as a “national crisis.”
Government statistics show an overall rise in knife offenses across England and Wales since 2011, though the past year saw a 4.5% decrease compared to 2019-20. Data from the National Health Service in England also indicated a 10.4% decrease in hospital cases due to assault by a sharp object in 2024-25, with 3,500 recorded cases.
King Charles and Queen Camilla expressed their shock and offered their “deepest sympathy and thoughts” to all affected, praising the swift emergency response.
The Saturday violence led to widespread disruption across the rail network. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) issued a “Do Not Travel” alert for the affected line on Saturday. While some lines reopened Sunday, the company warned of potential further cancellations and delays.
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that there would be a “high visibility presence” of police at railway stations and on trains Sunday to “reassure the public.”
In an early Sunday update, LNER Managing Director David Horne conveyed that staff were “shocked and saddened” by the attack and commended emergency services for their rapid response. The British Transport Police identified the train as the 6:25 p.m.
GMT (2:25 p.m. ET) service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.
Huntingdon is approximately 77 miles north of London.