Saturday’s stabbing incident on a train in Cambridgeshire is not being classified as terrorism, according to the Home Secretary. Shabana Mahmood provided an update confirming that two individuals detained in Huntingdon are British citizens. She commended the quick response of emergency services and hailed the courage of the LNER train’s passengers and staff.
Authorities reported that a 32-year-old British male and a 35-year-old man of Caribbean descent, both British nationals, are in custody following the attack on a London-bound train where eleven individuals were injured, with nine sustaining life-threatening wounds. The stabbings occurred shortly after the train halted in Peterborough.
British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless labeled the incident as “shocking” and stated that it was premature to speculate on the motives behind the stabbings. The first arrest was made within eight minutes of the attack being reported. Of the 11 individuals hospitalized, four who were initially in critical condition have been discharged. The investigation is ongoing, with no indications of terrorist involvement at this stage.
The assault occurred on a train departing Peterborough station at 7:42 pm. Police reportedly deployed a Taser against a man wielding a large knife on the train. Two individuals have been apprehended in connection with the attack, which transpired on the Doncaster to London King’s Cross service on Saturday.