A horrifying stabbing attack on a London-bound train in Cambridgeshire left ten people hospitalized on Saturday evening, nine of them in critical condition. Amid the chaos, an elderly man emerged as a hero when he shielded a young girl from the armed assailants, suffering deep gashes to his neck and head.
Witnesses aboard the LNER Azuma train, which was traveling from Peterborough to London&rsquo;s King&rsquo;s Cross, described scenes of panic as passengers screamed and rushed to escape the attackers. One witness recalled initially mistaking the commotion for a Halloween prank until he saw blood on his hands from a nearby seat. &ldquo;It felt like forever, even though it lasted just 10 to 15 minutes,&rdquo; he said, recounting the terror inside the carriage.
The attackers reportedly forced the train to halt at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, where they continued to stab passengers before being subdued. Police arrested two suspects at the scene and confirmed that counter-terrorism units are assisting with the investigation. Authorities have not yet revealed the suspects&rsquo; identities or motives.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which operates the service, has urged passengers to avoid travel on Sunday, warning of potential cancellations due to the ongoing investigation.
The incident has reignited concerns over rising knife crime in the United Kingdom. Government data shows a steady increase in such offenses across England and Wales since 2011. In recent months, officials have launched intensified crackdowns, resulting in nearly 60,000 blades being seized or surrendered as part of nationwide efforts to curb violence.
Just weeks earlier, Manchester witnessed a deadly stabbing spree at a synagogue, which left several injured and two dead. The latest attack has once again drawn attention to the growing threat of knife-related violence across the country.

Police cordon at UK train station after attack

Elderly man saves girl from knife attack on UK train, suffers serious injuries

Old Man Saves Girl in UK Train Stabbing Attack

Elderly man saves girl from knife attack on UK train, suffers serious injuries

November 2, 2025 | 16:53 IST