9 in critical condition after mass stabbing on UK train; 2 suspects arrested

London — At least nine people are in critical condition following a stabbing attack on a train near Cambridge, eastern England, on Saturday evening. Police confirmed that two suspects have been arrested, and counterterrorism officers are assisting in the investigation, local media reported.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, calling it an “appalling incident” and expressed his gratitude to emergency responders.

The British Transport Police (BTP) said counterterrorism units are supporting their inquiry as investigators work to determine the full circumstances and possible motives behind the assault.

BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey stated: “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.”

According to Cambridgeshire Constabulary, armed officers responded swiftly after being alerted to the incident at Huntingdon station at around 7:39 p.m. (local time) on Saturday. “Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested,” the police confirmed.

The East of England Ambulance Service deployed a “large-scale response” to the scene, dispatching several ambulances, tactical commanders, and a hazardous area response team. A spokesperson confirmed that “multiple patients have been transported to hospital.”

The attack occurred aboard a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service traveling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross at around 6:25 p.m., shortly after the train departed Peterborough station, authorities said.

Prime Minister Starmer described the event as “deeply concerning” in a post on X, writing: “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply saddened” by the stabbings and confirmed that both suspects were taken into custody. “I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage,” she wrote on X.

LNER, which operates the East Coast Main Line, said the incident occurred aboard one of its trains and warned passengers of major travel disruption. Huntingdon station remains closed, with all lines blocked, according to National Rail. LNER said disruptions are expected to continue until Monday.

“We are experiencing major disruption across the LNER route. Emergency services are dealing with an incident at Huntingdon station; all lines are blocked. Our advice is: ‘Do Not Travel’. Please defer your travel where possible,” the company said in a statement.

With inputs from IANS