London, November 2, 2025 — A terrifying knife attack on a crowded London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train in Cambridgeshire has left ten people injured, nine of them in critical condition, in what police have called a “major incident.”
The train was halted near Huntingdon at 7:39 p.m. after reports of multiple stabbings. Armed police and more than 30 officers responded swiftly, detaining two male suspects at the scene. Witnesses described the attack as “chaotic” and “unreal,” with passengers running for their lives and blood covering the carriages.
Initially treated as a potential terror incident, British Transport Police later rescinded the “Plato” declaration — the national code for a marauding terror attack — but confirmed that counterterrorism officers are assisting with the investigation.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey described the assault as “shocking” and said police were working urgently to determine the motive. “It would not be appropriate to speculate at this stage,” he added.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “appalling” attack, offering his condolences to the victims and praising the emergency services for their rapid response.
An eyewitness, Olly Foster, told the BBC that panic erupted as victims shouted for help. “People were screaming ‘run, run!’ I thought it was a Halloween prank until I saw blood everywhere,” he said. Another passenger described an older man heroically shielding a young girl from one of the attackers, suffering stab wounds to his head and neck.
All train lines through Huntingdon remain closed as police search the area and examine the LNER Azuma train involved. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed multiple patients were transported to hospitals in critical condition.
Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty praised the “massive and professional” emergency response, while the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said his thoughts were “with everyone affected by these horrendous scenes.”
The attack has reignited debate over Britain’s growing knife-crime epidemic, which Prime Minister Starmer has described as a “national crisis.”
