Credited from: SCMP
British authorities have arrested two British nationals in connection with a mass stabbing attack on a train traveling from Doncaster to London, which left a total of 11 people hospitalized, two in life-threatening condition. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, prompting a response from the British Transport Police, who quickly ruled out any links to terrorism, confirming that it was not seen as a terrorist incident, according to aa and npr.
The two suspects, a 32-year-old Black British man and a 35-year-old man of Caribbean descent, were taken into custody shortly after the attack, which caused widespread panic among passengers. One suspect has since been released without charges, leaving the 32-year-old as the primary suspect, as police continue their investigation into what led to the violence, according to scmp.
British Transport Police reported that among those injured was a rail worker who acted heroically during the attack and is currently in critical condition. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as passengers fled the train, with reports of one shouting "run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone." The police have recovered a knife from the scene and are working rapidly to determine further details, as highlighted by npr and scmp.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed the importance of avoiding speculation while the investigation unfolds and praised the "exceptional bravery" of those involved in helping others during the incident. The swift action of emergency services and the extraordinary response from train staff have been acknowledged in the aftermath, underscoring the seriousness of the attack and its impact on the community, as reported by aa, npr, and scmp.