British police said 10 people were hospitalized — nine of them with life-threatening injuries — after a mass stabbing on a London-bound train Saturday evening. Counter-terrorism officers are assisting in the investigation.
British Transport Police, which oversees railway security, confirmed early Sunday that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack.
“Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries,” the force said in a statement. “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.”
Authorities briefly invoked “Plato,” the emergency code used for potential marauding terror attacks, but later stood it down. Police have yet to determine a motive.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said, “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.”
The stabbing occurred on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service traveling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross as it neared Huntingdon, a market town northwest of Cambridge.
Armed officers and air ambulances quickly responded when the train stopped at Huntingdon station. Police in forensic suits, along with a police dog, were later seen on the platform.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said armed police were called to the scene at 7:39 p.m. and confirmed that two individuals were arrested at the station, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of London.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his “thoughts are with all those affected” by what he described as an “appalling incident.”
Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said he had heard reports of “horrendous scenes” aboard the train.
LNER confirmed the attack occurred on one of its services and urged passengers not to travel due to “major disruption” on the East Coast Main Line.
