British police have arrested two men after a horrific knife attack aboard a London-bound train left 11 passengers injured on Friday evening, prompting emergency medical evacuations and a large-scale law enforcement response across the rail network.
The attack occurred at around 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 on a train traveling from Doncaster, in northeast England, to London’s King’s Cross station. The train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, a market town near Cambridge, where officers boarded and detained two men within minutes. Both suspects aged 32 and 35 are being held on suspicion of attempted murder, according to the British Transport Police.
Ten of the victims were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance. An eleventh person later sought medical help independently. Early reports indicated that nine passengers had suffered life-threatening injuries; however, authorities said four have since been discharged from the hospital. Two remain in critical condition.
Police have not released the identities of the suspects or victims, citing the early stage of the investigation.
Passengers recounted moments of chaos and terror to the BBC as the attackers moved through the carriage.
One passenger, Olly Foster, said he initially believed the commotion was “a Halloween prank” until a man covered in blood sat near him.
“I put my hand on this chair … and then I look at my hand, and it’s covered in blood,” he recalled. “Then I look at the chair, and there’s blood all over the chair. And then I look ahead and there’s blood on all the chairs.”
Foster described fellow riders attempting to protect one another during the attack. One man reportedly blocked an attacker from harming a young girl, while others used a bottle of whiskey in defense.
“The incident lasted 10 to 15 minutes,” Foster said, “but it felt like forever.”
The incident drew swift reactions from national leaders. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “appalling,” adding:
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
King Charles III and Queen Camilla said they were “shocked” by the violence and sent their “heartfelt sympathies” to the victims and their families.
British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless said investigators currently have no reason to believe the attack was terrorism-related.
“There is nothing to suggest this was a terrorist incident. We continue work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this attack,” Loveless said. “It would not be appropriate to speculate.”
Both suspects were born in the United Kingdom, according to police.
Police are conducting forensic examinations on the train and interviewing witnesses, asking anyone who filmed or photographed the incident to come forward.
Huntingdon rail station remained closed throughout Saturday, though trains continued to pass through without stopping.
Authorities have not yet indicated when the station will fully reopen.
Detectives said the priority remains understanding what triggered the violence.
“We know this was a deeply traumatic event for everyone onboard,” Loveless said. “Our investigation will be thorough, and we are committed to providing answers as soon as possible.”