‘Heroic’ train worker fighting for life after saving ‘many passengers lives’ during mass stabbing
A 'heroic' railway worker is fighting for his life in hospital after bravely trying to stop an attacker who targeted passengers with a knife on a busy train.
For those who need a reminder of the horrific story, there was a mass stabbing on Saturday's (1 November) London North Eastern Railway (LNER) 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.
Shortly after the train left Peterborough station, a man began walking through the train, stabbing passengers on board with a large knife.
British Transport Police declared a major incident when the train came to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after panicked passengers pulled the emergency alarms.
Advert
Two men were arrested eight minutes after police were called at 7.42pm, and one of them remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, officers confirmed, as they established the second man was not involved.
The current suspect, a 32-year-old black British man from Peterborough, boarded the LNER train at the city's station, police confirmed.
Eleven people were hospitalised after the attack, and on Sunday (2 November) evening, BTP confirmed that five casualties had been discharged.
But according to an update from authorities that came in last night, one man remains in a life-threatening condition - a worker who got injured while courageously trying to protect passengers.
The man is an LNER staff member, and he has not been named in the media.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of BTP, said CCTV from the train showed the man’s actions 'were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved people’s lives', adding: "This was a horrific attack that has had a wide impact.
"My thoughts and those of everyone in British Transport Police are with those injured and their families – especially the brave member of rail staff whose family are being supported by specialist officers."
While David Horne, managing director of LNER, added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, particularly our colleague who remains in a life-threatening condition, and their family.
"I would also like to recognise the driver, crew and our operational response colleagues for their bravery and quick actions."
Train driver Andrew Johnson is said to have got signalers to divert the train to a different track, allowing him to stop at a platform at Huntingdon, which was not a planned stop on the route.
He told ITV News: “I was only doing my job. It was my colleague who is in hospital who was the brave one.”
Other passengers have also spoken out about the horror which unfolded on the train, with one woman saying she felt 'very lucky' to be alive after begging the man to spare her life when he chased after her.
Dayna Arnold, 48, told The Mirror: "I fell down and I just said, ‘Please don’t kill me’. Something shifted in his face and he just carried on. He said: ‘The devil is not going to win.’".
Thomas McLachlan, 19, from London, told BBC News he saw people leaving the train 'drenched in blood' and other passengers said they hid in train toilets and the buffet car to protect themselves during the terrifying attack.
Police have said the attack is not believed to have been motivated by terrorism, as an investigation continues.
Madison Burgess