Hero rail staff member who ‘undoubtedly saved many people’s lives’ during train knife rampage remains in critical condition

A hero railway staff member who saved passengers from a frenzied knife attack on a train in Huntingdon has been praised for ‘undoubtedly saving people’s lives’ as he was left in a critical condition.

The knife attack took place on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday evening.

A 32-year-old man from Peterborough is currently considered the sole suspect.

While one person’s life remained in danger after the attack, 12 people were hospitalized last night.

Police confirmed that the remaining casualty was a member of LNER railway staff who bravely tried to stop the attacker.

Detectives investigating the attack said after reviewing CCTV footage that his “actions were heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives”.

The 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.

Police said the man boarded the train at Peterborough station.

Terrified passengers were seen trying to escape by running across platform 2 of Huntingdon station

Last night passenger Olly Foster described the moment a young girl was saved by a ‘hero’ who defended her from a knife-wielding man.

He said: ‘A young girl was distraught when her attacker tried to stab her, but an old man’s hero got in her way, leaving a gash on her forehead and I think there was another on her neck.’

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: ‘Our investigation is progressing rapidly and we are confident we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

‘Specialist detectives are, as expected, investigating the background of the suspect we have in custody and the events leading up to the attack.

‘This was a horrific attack that had a widespread impact. My thoughts, and those of everyone at British Transport Police, are with those injured and their families, especially the brave railway staff whose families are supported by specialist officers.

‘The actions of railway staff monitoring CCTV from the train were heroic and undoubtedly saved people’s lives.

‘I would like to thank the public for their patience as we continue our investigation at Huntingdon station. We hope we can support GTR in reopening the station soon.

‘Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25.’

In the video, a man holds a cloth to his head as red blood oozes from it.

LNER Managing Director David Horne said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by yesterday’s incident; Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially our colleague with life-threatening injuries and their families.

‘I would like to thank the emergency services for their quick and professional response and the care they provided to the injured. I would also like to thank the driver, crew and our operational response colleagues for their courage and prompt action.

‘This is a very sad incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities in the coming days and do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues during this difficult time.’

Witnesses describe horrific events that left passengers hiding in toilets for safety as carriages were soaked in blood.

At one point, investigators explained the Plato Code, a word used by emergency services when responding to a ‘predatory terrorist attack’; But today police said there was ‘nothing to suggest this was a terrorist incident’.

In the latest footage to emerge, a man with a knife is seen just after the stabbings and the train stopping in Huntingdon.

He was filmed walking on a platform at the station where the train was not scheduled to stop but was brought to an emergency stop as a result of the incident.

Terrified passengers are seen running off the platform to escape before bloodcurdling screams are heard as the man dressed in all black and wearing a black hat jumps over the fence and a paramedic is heard saying: ‘Get down, get down.’ Please run, please run.’

Stunning footage obtained by the Daily Mail also filmed dazed passengers stumbling off the train with bloody rags in their hands; Confused victims were looking around and asking ‘where are we’ as they unloaded suitcases from the platform.

The footage also appears to feature an ‘absolute hero’ who is said to have used his head to stop a knife-wielding man from stabbing a young girl.

Sirens can be heard blaring loudly as the passenger holds a white cloth on his head, from which red blood has oozed.

Olly Foster was in the H coach and was listening to an audio book when a man ran out of his car shouting ‘Run! To run! ‘There’s a man stabbing literally everyone and everything’.

Mr Foster said he and some other travelers initially thought it was a ‘joke’ or ‘Halloween prank’ but from the looks on their faces they ‘immediately knew they were serious’.

He described how his hand was ‘covered in blood’ after he placed his hand on a chair while running inside the car.

‘There was blood on numerous chairs from two of the men who had been seriously stabbed in front of me,’ he said.

Mr Foster and other terrified passengers ran to the end of the short train, where he and several others lined up where they tried to find a weapon to defend themselves in case attackers arrived.