Police rule out terror link in UK train stabbing attack, 2 British suspects held

Police have ruled out terrorism in connection with a mass stabbing on a train in central England on Saturday, as two victims remain in life-threatening condition.

Ten people were taken to hospital by ambulance following the attack, with an eleventh person later presenting themselves for medical treatment. By Sunday morning, two of those injured were still in critical condition, British Transport Police Superintendent John Loveless confirmed.

“At this stage, there is nothing to suggest this was a terrorist incident,” Loveless told reporters during a press briefing. “It would not be appropriate to speculate on the motive at this time,” he added, noting that officers are working to establish the full circumstances. Counter-terrorism units had initially supported the investigation as a precaution.

Both suspects are British-born men: one aged 32 and described as Black British, the other aged 35 and of Caribbean descent. They were arrested just eight minutes after the first emergency call was received at approximately 7.42 p.m. on Saturday.

The incident occurred aboard a train travelling from Doncaster in northern England to London King’s Cross. Armed officers responded to the scene when the train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station, where the suspects were detained.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and bloodshed. Passenger Wren Chambers told the BBC she initially heard “screaming and shouting” from a nearby carriage. “A minute or so later, a man came running down with a very clear wound, bleeding quite badly on his arm. At first, I thought it might be some sort of Halloween prank. But then he shouted that someone had a knife—he’d been stabbed.”

Chambers said she quickly gathered her belongings and moved toward the front of the train as more passengers fled. Another witness, who identified himself as Gavin, told Sky News he saw an “extremely bloodied” victim and believed one suspect was tasered before being arrested.

Defence Secretary John Healey described the incident as an “isolated attack” in a Sky News interview. Meanwhile, King Charles issued a statement on Sunday expressing his “deepest sympathies” to those affected. “I am truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack in Huntingdon,” the monarch said, adding that his “thoughts are with all those impacted.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the violence, saying his “thoughts are with all those affected by this appalling incident.”

The East Coast Main Line, where the attack occurred, is one of the UK’s busiest rail routes, connecting London King’s Cross with major cities including Leeds, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.