LONDON — A knife attack on a train that left 11 people injured on Saturday night was not a terrorist incident, police said, as a British national was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Of the nine people initially reported to have life-threatening injuries, several cases have since been downgraded and five people have been discharged. One person, a member of London North Eastern Railway (LNER) staff who tried to stop the suspect, remains in life-threatening condition, police said in a Sunday evening update.
“Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives,” police said.
There is “nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident,” Superintendent John Loveless said on Sunday, noting that the suspect, a 32-year-old man, was born in the United Kingdom and remains in custody for questioning. The man is from Peterborough and boarded the train at the Peterborough station, police said.
The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.
Another suspect, a 35-year-old man, was initially arrested after it was reported to officers that he was involved in the incident, police said on Sunday evening. He was released “with no further action” after police confirmed that he was not involved in the attack.
The 32-year-old man is now being treated as the only suspect, police said.
Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the emergency services had “saved lives” and praised the “exceptional bravery of staff and passengers on the train,” which connects London to the north of England.
“We now know this attack is not being treated as terrorism, and that two British-born, British nationals have been arrested,” she posted on X.
Police are working “to establish at pace the full circumstances and the motivations that have led to this incident,” Loveless said.
“Our investigation is moving at pace and we are confident we are not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident,” said Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy. “As would be expected, specialist detectives are looking into the background of the suspect we have in custody and the events that led up to the attack.”
A knife was recovered from the scene, police said on Sunday evening.
Police and medics rushed to a train station in Huntingdon, northwest of Cambridge, after reports of a stabbing on a London-bound train at 7:42 p.m. GMT (3:42 p.m. ET). The train made an unscheduled stop as emergency services responded, according to the British Transport Police and social media footage from the scene.
Video posted on X showed passengers running from the station, one appearing to have blood on them while clutching their arm. Another showed crowds gathered outside alongside multiple emergency service vehicles as sirens blared.
More video posted online showed the massive police response, with multiple police vehicles on the scene.
The Cambridgeshire Police, which patrols the area, arrested two people at the scene in connection with the incident, authorities said.
“Within eight minutes of a 999 call being made, two men were in police custody,” Loveless added.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said it scrambled numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, a hazardous response team and two helicopters to transport “multiple patients” to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
A large police presence remained at Huntingdon on Sunday morning, with many roads closed around the station. Forensic tents with officers in white overalls were set up in the parking lot, while the train where the stabbings took place was still parked on the platform.
British Defense Secretary John Healey told NBC News’ British partner Sky News earlier Sunday that the nation’s threat level is unchanged at “substantial,” which means a future terror attack is considered likely.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “appalling” and “deeply concerning.” He has previously called knife crime a “national crisis.” The number of offenses involving a knife across England and Wales has risen overall since 2011, according to government statistics, though it is 4.5% lower over the past year than in 2019-20.
Data from the National Health Service in England shows there were 3,500 cases recorded in hospitals in 2024-25 due to assault by a sharp object, a 10.4% decrease compared to the previous year.
King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “shocked” following the attack, and paid tribute to the emergency response.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones,” the king wrote in a statement Sunday.
The violence on Saturday prompted widespread disruption across the rail network. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) issued a “Do Not Travel” alert for the affected line on Saturday, and while some lines reopened Sunday, the company warned that further cancellations and delays were likely.
There will be “a high visibility presence” of police at railway stations and on trains on Sunday to “reassure the public,” British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.
In an update early Sunday, LNER Managing Director David Horne said staff was “shocked and saddened” by the attack, and he praised emergency services for their swift response.
The British Transport Police said the train was the 6:25 p.m. GMT (2:25 p.m. ET) service from Doncaster in the north of England to London King’s Cross. Huntingdon is about 77 miles north of London.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact the British Transport Police.
@ NBC News
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