The attack occurred on Saturday evening at around 6:25 p.m., shortly after a high-speed London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train departed from Peterborough station, en route from Doncaster to London. The shocking incident caused widespread panic among passengers.

Panic on Board

Passenger Wren Chambers told the BBC that she heard “screams and shouting” coming from one or two carriages before seeing “a man running past with a serious wound to his arm, bleeding heavily.” Chambers said she grabbed her bag and coat and moved as far away as possible, while others locked themselves inside the train toilets for safety.

Armed officers were dispatched immediately after the first emergency call at 7:42 p.m. Just eight minutes later, the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, where police boarded the train and detained two suspects as passengers were evacuated from the platform.

“No evidence of terrorism link”

The British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed that two people were arrested at the scene. However, by Sunday evening, the force stated that only one man—a 32-year-old British national—remained in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. Another man, a 35-year-old British citizen of Caribbean descent, was released without further action.

Officials said investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack but emphasized that there is currently no evidence indicating a link to terrorism. A BTP spokesperson said, “We are treating this as a major incident, but early findings suggest it was an isolated act of violence.”

Prime Minister Starmer: Deeply concerning

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning,” extending his support to the victims and their families. “Incidents like this are profoundly worrying for public safety. My thoughts are with those injured and everyone affected,” he said.

Health authorities confirmed that nine of the ten injured passengers remain in critical condition, with one person fighting for their life in hospital. Train services in the region were temporarily disrupted as police conducted searches and collected witness statements.

“People were screaming and hiding”

One witness said, “There was blood on the seats. People were screaming and running without knowing where to go.” Another added, “Some passengers locked themselves in the toilets; everyone was terrified.”

Police said they are continuing to collect evidence and review security footage from the train and station. Officials also stated that rail safety measures will be reassessed in the wake of the incident.