On Saturday evening an LNER service from Doncaster to London was the scene of a mass stabbing after leaving Peterborough. Eleven people were treated in hospital; nine were initially described as in life‑threatening condition and two remained critically ill the following morning. Two British-born men in their 30s were arrested at Huntingdon within minutes of the emergency call; police say there is currently no evidence the attack was terrorism-related. Investigations are ongoing and authorities have asked the public to share any information or footage.
Mass stabbing on LNER train leaves two critically ill; two suspects held after Huntingdon stop
On Saturday evening an LNER service from Doncaster to London was the scene of a mass stabbing after leaving Peterborough. Eleven people were treated in hospital; nine were initially described as in life‑threatening condition and two remained critically ill the following morning. Two British-born men in their 30s were arrested at Huntingdon within minutes of the emergency call; police say there is currently no evidence the attack was terrorism-related. Investigations are ongoing and authorities have asked the public to share any information or footage.
17:36, 02.11.2025Security
What happened
Britain was shaken on Saturday evening when a mass stabbing unfolded on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service travelling from Doncaster to London. The attack began shortly after the train left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire. British Transport Police (BTP) declared a major incident after multiple passengers were injured and the train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon station.
Timeline and police response
The LNER service departed Doncaster at 6:25 p.m. local time. BTP received the first emergency call at about 7:42 p.m. Armed officers were deployed immediately, and within eight minutes of that call two suspects were detained after the train made an unplanned stop at Huntingdon.
Eyewitness accounts
Passengers described chaotic scenes as people fled through carriages. One passenger, Wren Chambers, told the BBC she heard "screaming and shouting" before seeing someone running past with a severe arm wound. Other witnesses reported passengers barricading themselves in toilets and seats stained with blood.
One witness, giving his name as Gavin, said officers used a Taser to subdue a suspect as they ordered people to "get down" while evacuating the platform at Huntingdon.
Casualties and arrests
A total of 11 people received hospital treatment: 10 were taken by ambulance (nine initially reported in life‑threatening condition) and one later self-presented at hospital. As of Sunday morning, two people remained critically ill, British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless said. Little additional personal detail about the victims has been released so far.
Police arrested two British-born men in their 30s on suspicion of attempted murder. Superintendent Loveless said one suspect is 32 and the other 35; both were in separate custody suites for questioning. Authorities are working to establish a motive.
Investigation status
Investigators have said there is currently no evidence to treat the incident as terrorism. "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident," Superintendent Loveless said, adding that it would be inappropriate to speculate further. The BTP initially declared the national code word "Plato"—used for marauding terrorist attacks—before later withdrawing that designation as the situation became clearer.
Official reactions
Senior politicians and public figures expressed shock and sympathy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X: "My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response." Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was "deeply saddened" and the King and Queen Consort expressed their "deepest sympathy" to victims and their families.
Context
The attack occurred on the East Coast Main Line, one of the UK’s busiest intercity routes linking London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. The UK sees relatively few mass-casualty incidents and has low rates of gun crime; recorded knife offences have risen overall since 2011, with the Office for National Statistics reporting 51,527 knife offences in England and Wales in the 12 months to June 2025.
What we know and next steps
Police continue to investigate and are working to establish a motive. For now, authorities urge anyone with information or footage related to the incident to contact British Transport Police. The investigation remains active and details may evolve as officers release further information.