UK police have arrested two British nationals on suspicion of attempted murder following a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England. Authorities have confirmed that the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
The suspects in custody are a 32-year-old Black British man and a 35-year-old British man of Caribbean descent, British Transport Police superintendent John Loveless told reporters on Sunday.
“At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident,” he said.
The attack took place late on Saturday aboard a London-bound train travelling from Doncaster to King’s Cross Station. The assault left ten people in hospital, with nine believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Armed officers, supported
by police vehicles and ambulances, responded swiftly, bringing the train to a halt at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire. British Transport Police said counter-terrorism units are assisting in the ongoing investigation, but stressed there is no current link to terrorism.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “appalling” and “deeply concerning.” He offered his thoughts to those affected and praised the emergency services for their rapid response. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood confirmed that two suspects had been taken into custody.
Train operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER) reported that the railway lines in the area were temporarily closed while emergency services dealt with the situation. Passengers were warned to avoid travel due to “major disruption.”
The attack highlights ongoing concerns about knife crime in England and Wales. Despite strict gun controls, knife-related offences have risen steadily since 2011.
The Labour government has called the issue a “national crisis” and launched campaigns to reduce knife crime. Recent government figures show that nearly 60,000 knives have been seized or surrendered, while knife murders fell by 18 percent in the past year. Carrying a knife in public can carry a sentence of up to four years in prison.
(With inputs from AFP)
