From 4h ago 05.52 GMT What we know so far It’s nearing 6am in London and if you are just catching up with the news, here is a quick recap of what we know so far about the Cambridgeshire train stabbing attack. Nine people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday evening. A tenth person suffered nonlife-threatening injuries.

A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after the attack on the high speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings which happened on the 6.25pm train service. Counter-terrorism police are also involved in the investigation. Police officers stand near a cordon outside Huntingdon Station on 2 November, 2025 in Huntingdon, England after a stabbing attack on a train. Photograph: Getty Images Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning”.

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times reported. One told the paper there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee.

London North Eastern Railway, which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, said disruption to services in the area was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer travel. Share Updated at 08.17 GMT

10m ago 09.29 GMT We are in a new era of threat, defence secretary warns Asked by Trevor Phillips on Sky News if the attack has changed the (UK’s) security alert status at all, the defence secretary, John Healey, said the threat remains “substantial”. “It reflects a period of really increasing pressure on our country and uncertainty more widely in the world, a new era of threat if you like,” he said. There are 5 levels of terrorism threat: Low – an attack is highly unlikely

Moderate – an attack is possible but not likely

Substantial – an attack is likely

Severe – an attack is highly likely

Critical – an attack is highly likely in the near future The level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the MI5. Healey went on to repeat that “we are in a new era of threat”, citing examples of cyber-attacks and the “menacing of our critical infrastructure that is under the seas”. Share

20m ago 09.19 GMT Huntingdon railway station remains taped off by police on Sunday morning after a mass stabbing on a train. The train is still on the platform and a number of officers are positioned around the station, according to reporting by the PA news agency. The road directly outside the station’s car park, the A1307, is shut and a number of police vehicles are on the road. View image in fullscreen Forensic police officers attend the scene at Huntingdon Station after the stabbing attack on a train on 02 November 2025 in Huntingdon. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Share

32m ago 09.07 GMT Stabbing attack is considered to be an isolated incident, defence secretary says The defence secretary, John Healey, said the facts from last night’s attack were still “emerging” and urged people to avoid speculation. In an interview with Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning, he said: This is close to home. This was the very service that my wife and I Jackie took just a few hours before this attack. It is the service I use every week to get home to Rotherham. So I can’t begin to imagine how shocked and frightened those passengers were and a huge tribute to those passengers and the emergency services for their response because it could have been so much worse. Healey said the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will update the public as soon as further facts emerge. He said the police will also give updates at some point. Q: The fact that there are two arrests, rather than a lone person, the fact that this resembles some other things that have happened in the past and the fact that the counter-terrorism police are involved suggests at least that still the possibility that this is a terrorist attack is still open. Is that right? A: Those are all suppositions. The only assessment is that this was an isolated incident, an isolated attack. So there is no reason for the rest of us not to get on with our lives, get on and travel to the places we need to get to. But those sort of conclusions, those firmer assessments and that information will be provided to the public as soon as we’ve got them. Share

1h ago 08.15 GMT Mayor of London describes Cambridgeshire train stabbing as ‘deeply concerning’ The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has described the “horrific” attack as “deeply concerning” and said he is in “close contact” with the Metropolitan police to ensure all “necessary support is provided”. In a post to X this morning, he wrote: The horrific incident on the train in Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with those injured and affected. I am grateful to our emergency services for their swift response. I am in close contact with the Met and transport authorities to ensure all necessary support is provided. Anyone planning to travel on LNER services today should check before they travel. View image in fullscreen A police officer walks on the platform after a stabbing attack on board a Doncaster-London King’s Cross train on Saturday. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Share Updated at 08.26 GMT

2h ago 07.57 GMT The stabbing attack has caused widespread shock across the UK. A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: “We are horrified by the mass stabbing attack on an LNER train last night. “Our thoughts remain with the train crew and passengers who were either at work or going about their business on a busy Saturday night during this awful incident. “It is important we allow the emergency services and authorities to establish the full facts before commenting further.” Share

2h ago 07.34 GMT At first he thought it was a sick Halloween joke. Commuter Olly Foster had been listening to an audio book on the train as it sped through Cambridgeshire when a man ran past him, yelling “Run, run, there is a guy stabbing literally everyone, everything.” But the horror on the man’s face told him it wasn’t a prank at all, Foster told the BBC, as he recounted the harrowing attack. “You could kind of see in their faces they were being serious,” he said. Foster grabbed his belongings as he and other passengers attempted to escape. “Everyone was really pushing behind us, really panicking,” he said. He described touching a chair that was covered in blood, and a brave man who was injured in neck as he tried to protect a young girl. Unclear of what was coming next, Foster said he and another passenger were preparing for what would happen if an attacker emerged. “We had a Jack Daniels bottle between us and that was it,” he said, “We were kind of sitting there with one Jack Daniels bottle just looking down the end of this carriage just praying someone doesn’t walk down with a knife, with a gun.” Share Updated at 07.34 GMT

2h ago 07.27 GMT It’s almost 7.30am in England, and we would expect an update from the British Transport Police this morning. Here is their full statement from last night: We can confirm that at 7.42pm today (1 November) British Transport Police were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.

Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.

Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident who have been taken to police custody.

Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

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.

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

“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. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

“Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time. Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.

“I thank the public for their patience and their cooperation this evening which has already greatly assisted our policing response. We will update you again as soon as we have more information.”

Anyone with information who hasn’t already spoken to police is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25. Share Updated at 07.29 GMT

3h ago 06.51 GMT Some more images from the scene at Huntingdon Station are coming through: View image in fullscreen Police and other emergency responders attend to Huntingdon Station Photograph: Getty Images View image in fullscreen Police and other emergency responders attend to Huntingdon Station Photograph: Getty Images Share

4h ago 05.52 GMT What we know so far It’s nearing 6am in London and if you are just catching up with the news, here is a quick recap of what we know so far about the Cambridgeshire train stabbing attack. Nine people have been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday evening. A tenth person suffered nonlife-threatening injuries.

A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after the attack on the high speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings which happened on the 6.25pm train service. Counter-terrorism police are also involved in the investigation. View image in fullscreen Police officers stand near a cordon outside Huntingdon Station on 2 November, 2025 in Huntingdon, England after a stabbing attack on a train. Photograph: Getty Images Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning”.

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times reported. One told the paper there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee.

London North Eastern Railway, which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, said disruption to services in the area was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer travel. Share Updated at 08.17 GMT

4h ago 05.18 GMT Travel disruptions expected through to Monday LNER, which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, said disruption to its services between London Kings Cross and Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and Harrogate was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer their travel where possible. View image in fullscreen Police officers and a dog handler work on the platform alongside an LNER Azuma train at Huntingdon Station in Huntingdon, eastern England, on 1 November, 2025, following a stabbing on a train. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Share

5h ago 05.00 GMT Knife crime in England and Wales has been steadily rising since 2011, according to official government data. While Britain has some of the strictest gun controls in the world, rampant knife crime has been branded a “national crisis” by Starmer. His government has tried to rein in the use of knives. Nearly 60,000 blades have been either “seized or surrendered” in England and Wales as part of government efforts to halve knife crime within a decade, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. Carrying a knife in public can be punishable by up to four years in prison, and the government said knife murders had dropped by 18% in the last year. Share

5h ago 04.35 GMT People at the scene of the train stabbing have described some horrifying details. Olly Foster told the BBC he initially heard people shouting “run, run, there’s a guy literally stabbing everyone”, and believed it might have been a prank related to Halloween. Foster said that people quickly started pushing through the carriage, and he noticed his hand was “covered in blood” as there was “blood all over the chair” he had leaned on. An older man “blocked” the attacker from stabbing a younger girl, leaving him with injuries to his head and neck, Mr Foster said, adding other passengers used their clothing to try and stem the bleeding. He said the incident “felt like forever”. View image in fullscreen Police and other emergency responders attend to Huntingdon Station on 2 November, 2025 in Huntingdon, England after a stabbing attack on a train. Photograph: Getty Images Share Updated at 05.03 GMT

6h ago 04.05 GMT Here is a map showing the location of the incident: map Share

6h ago 03.36 GMT Summary Nine people have been left with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday. A tenth person suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Counter-terrorism police are involved in the investigation.

A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after the attack on a high speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.

British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings which happened on the 6.25pm train service.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning”.

BTP said a major incident was declared, and at one point declared “Plato”, the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”, before the latter declaration was subsequently rescinded.

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times reported. One told the paper there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee.

Images from the scene and from social media showed scores of blue-light police cars and emergency vehicles in a station car park , and a team of armed police running towards the stationary train at Huntingdon station. Officers wearing forensic suits, with a police dog, could be seen on the platform.

The attack is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station.

Ch Supt Chris Casey said: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families … At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.”

MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty called the incident “appalling and devastating”.

London North Eastern Railway, which operates East Coast Mainline services in the UK, said disruption to services in the area was expected to last until Monday, with passengers advised to defer their travel where possible.

What we don’t yet know: the identity of the victims, and the identity of the arrested suspects. Share

7h ago 03.06 GMT David Horne, managing director of train operator London North Eastern Railway, said the company is “deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident”. He said in a statement: “Our thoughts are very much with everyone involved.” “I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they have provided to those injured. Anyone with information who hasn’t already spoken to police is urged to contact British Transport Police. “The safety and wellbeing of everyone affected will remain our priority. We will continue to do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.” Share

UK police say 10 people hospitalised after train stabbing attack, 9 with life-threatening injuries

Vartha Bharati | 02-11-2025 | 10:09:00 IST

Image Credit: PTI

London (AP): British police said 10 people have been hospitalised, nine with life-threatening injuries, following a mass stabbing attack on a London-bound train and that counter-terrorism police are supporting the investigation.

In a statement early Sunday, hours after the attack, British Transport Police also said the stabbings had been declared a “major incident.”

“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 attack took place as the train headed south towards Huntingdon, a market town a few miles northwest of the university city of Cambridge, early Saturday evening.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his “thoughts are with all those affected” after the “appalling incident”.

Emergency services, including armed police and air ambulances, responded quickly as the train drew into Huntingdon. The attack appears to have been contained swiftly after the train arrived at the station.

British Transport Police, which took the lead on the response given it is responsible for security matters on the trains, said “multiple people” were stabbed on the Doncaster to London King’s Cross train as it headed into Huntingdon. It did not provide a motive for the attack.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, said armed police attended the incident after officers were called to the scene at Huntingdon station at 7:39 pm on Saturday. It added that the two people were arrested at the station, which is around 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of London.

Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard of “horrendous scenes” on the train.

London North Eastern Railway, which operates the East Coast Mainline services in the UK, confirmed the incident had happened on one of its trains and urged passengers not to travel because of “major disruption”.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

British Transport Police to give update shortly, Cambridgeshire mayor confirms

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow has just spoken to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

He says the British Transport Police, who are leading the investigations, will give an update shortly on the stabbing attack – we expect a news conference to start at 10:00 GMT.

Bristow adds that counter-terrorism police are on site and advising the British Transport Police.

The mayor also commends the work of the emergency services, first responders and law enforcement, saying the train crew “responded amazingly” by stopping the train at Huntingdon station.

Close Armed officers at Huntingdon station after multiple stabbings leave several injured

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Nine people are in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a man armed with a large knife started stabbing people on a London-bound train in Cambridgeshire.

Armed police rushed to Huntingdon railway station to respond to the incident, which was initially classified as a major terror attack. Two people have been arrested, with witnesses describing a man with a knife being taken down by a police Taser.

Counter-terror police have joined the investigation into the attack, which is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the first emergency calls were received at 7.39pm.

Witnesses described passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, with one person saying there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on as they tried to flee.

Police said late on Saturday that there were not yet any fatalities after the attack, and a tenth victim was also in hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer called the incident “deeply concerning” and thanked the emergency services.

Huntingdon station remains closed and all lines are blocked. The A1307 has also been closed on the approach to the town centre.

07:06 Paige Ingram

Police initially declared ‘Operation Plato’ – MP says

Conservative MP for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty issued an update shortly after 1.30am. He claims the incident was initially responsed to under ‘Operation Plato’.

Plato is the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”. The decision was later rescinded, authorities said.

Taking to social media he wrote: “I have been on site at Huntingdon Station since 2110hrs liaising with emergency services and news media following the Major Incident.

“Shortly after 12am this morning I met with the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Simon Megicks, at Huntingdon Police Station regarding the attack that took place on Saturday evening on the 18.25 LNER train from Doncaster to London Kings Cross.

“The attack occurred after the train left Peterborough and made the unscheduled stop at Huntingdon following the attack. Police responded in minutes from the 999 call under Operation Plato and the first officers on the scene were Cambridgeshire Constabulary Response Officers, then backed up by Firearms Officers shortly afterwards.

“Two individuals were arrested at the scene. Ten people were injured in the attack, nine of whom are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

“This was an appalling and devastating attack. My thoughts are with all those victims who were injured during this heinous attack. I would like to pay tribute to the incredible and immediate response of the emergency services, particularly the Response Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary who were first to arrive on the scene with the suspect still armed and at large.

“British Transport Police has primacy in this investigation and is being supported by local officers and resources from Cambridgeshire Constabulary as well as Counter Terrorism Policing.”