A "heroic" LNER staff member sustained life-threatening injuries while intervening to save passengers during a mass stabbing on a high-speed train, The Guardian learned from police on Sunday. The British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed the LNER employee was seen on CCTV trying to stop the attacker as the train traveled through Cambridgeshire, The Guardian reported.
A major incident was declared by BTP on the 6:25 p.m. service to central London, and a 32-year-old British national is now in custody, The Guardian noted. Witnesses described a "terrifying" 14-minute ordeal after leaving Peterborough, with bloodied victims moving through the train. The incident led to 11 people requiring hospital treatment after an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station.
The suspect, Anthony Williams, who was brandishing a large knife, was Tasered on the platform by police; a bystander recorded him shouting: "Kill me, kill me." The Guardian also reported that a 35-year-old man initially arrested was released after being cleared of involvement, and five victims have since been discharged from the hospital.
BTP Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy called the incident "a horrific attack that has had a wide impact" and confirmed his thoughts were with the injured, "especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers," The Guardian cited. Cundy added, "Having viewed the CCTV from the train, the actions of the member of rail staff were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved people's lives."
Police have stated there is no indication the event was a terrorist incident and have asked the public for more information.
Following the attack, both the RMT and TSSA unions praised the rail staff and called for reviews, The Guardian noted. RMT's Eddie Dempsey stated he is "seeking urgent meetings with government, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest possible support, resources and robust procedures in place". Maryam Eslamdoust of the TSSA urged LNER and the government "to act swiftly to review security, to support the affected workers, and to ensure nothing like this happens again", according to The Guardian.
