Ten injured in London-bound train stabbing, two arrested

Ten people have been hospitalised, nine with life-threatening injuries, following a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train on November 1 evening, British police said, with counter-terrorism officers supporting the investigation.

In a statement early on November 2, British Transport Police (BTP), responsible for security on trains, said two individuals have been arrested in connection with the stabbings, Caliber.Az reports via AP.

“Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries,” the statement said. “This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident.”

The police force also said that “Plato,” the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to what could be a “marauding terror attack,” was initiated. The declaration was later rescinded, and no motive for the attack has been disclosed.

“We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further,” Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said. “At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.”

The attack occurred as the Doncaster to London King’s Cross train headed south toward Huntingdon, a market town a few miles northwest of Cambridge. Emergency services, including armed police and air ambulances, responded quickly as the train arrived at Huntingdon station. The incident appears to have been contained swiftly, and police officers wearing forensic suits, accompanied by a police dog, could be seen on the platform.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, confirmed that armed officers attended after being called to Huntingdon station at 7:39 p.m. on Saturday. The two suspects were arrested at the station, approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of London.

By Khagan Isayev