LONDON (AP) — British police said 10 people were hospitalized, nine of them with life-threatening injuries, after a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train, and that counterterrorism police are supporting the investigation.
In a statement early on Sunday, hours after the attack, British Transport Police also said the stabbing had been classified as a “serious incident”.
“Ten people were taken to hospital, nine of whom were believed to have life-threatening injuries,” the statement said. “This incident has been declared serious and counter-terrorism police are supporting our investigation as we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation behind this incident.”
The attack happened early on Saturday evening as the train headed south towards Huntingdon, a market town a few miles northwest of the university town of Cambridge.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his “thoughts are with everyone affected” after the “terrible incident.”
Emergency services, including armed police and ambulances, responded quickly as the train approached Huntingdon. Apparently, the attack was liquidated immediately after the train arrived at the station.
British Transport Police, which took the lead in the response as it is responsible for safety issues on trains, said “several people” were stabbed on the Doncaster-London Kings Cross train bound for Huntingdon. The motive for the attack was not specified.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, said armed police attended the incident after officers were called to the scene at Huntingdon station at 7.39pm on Saturday. He added that both men were arrested at the station, which is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of London.
Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard of “horrific scenes” on the train.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the UK's East Coast railway, confirmed the incident occurred on one of its trains and urged passengers not to travel due to “major disruption”.
