LONDON (AP) — A routine train journey was plunged into chaos when several people were stabbed aboard a train traveling through eastern England.
Two men have been arrested over Saturday night's attack, which injured nearly a dozen people.
Police are still trying to determine a motive, but say it does not appear to be an act of terrorism.
Here's what you need to know:
The train was on its way to London
The train left Doncaster in northern England at 6.25pm, bound for London's King's Cross station. It was about halfway through the two-hour journey and had just departed from a stop in Peterborough when police began receiving calls about people being stabbed on board.
Passengers described how panicked travelers, some covered in blood, ran down the aisle of the train to get away from the carriage where the violence took place.
Olly Foster said he heard someone shouting: “Run, run, there's a man literally stabbing everyone”, and at first thought it was a Halloween prank – until he noticed blood on his hand from touching seats in the train carriage.
“Everyone was really pushing after us, really panicking,” Foster told the BBC. He said he saw several people bleeding profusely from wounds.
Police responded within minutes
British Transport Police, which manages rail safety, said it received the first emergency calls at 7:42 p.m.
Within minutes, several dozen police officers, including specialist firearms officers, and paramedics were at the train station in Huntingdon, a town about 75 miles north of London.
Shortly afterwards, the train made an unscheduled stop at the station and passengers poured onto the platform as armed police officers rushed to the train.
Two suspects were arrested
British Transport Police said that within eight minutes of the first emergency calls, officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, had boarded the train and arrested two men.
Eyewitnesses said officers used a Taser to subdue a suspect who was holding a large knife.
Police said the suspects are both British-born British citizens and described them as a 32-year-old black man and a 35-year-old of Caribbean descent. They were questioned at separate police stations on Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder.
Two victims are in life-threatening condition
Police said 10 people were taken to nearby hospitals and an 11th went to a hospital on their own.
Initially, nine people were classified as having life-threatening injuries. But on Sunday morning, police said only two people were in life-threatening condition. Four of the injured had been discharged.
Police are looking for a motive, but say it is not terror
Police Supt. John Loveless said counter-terrorism police were initially called in to assist the investigation but that “at this stage there is nothing to indicate this is a terrorist incident.”
He said the investigation was being led by British Transport Police and that “it would not be appropriate to speculate as to the cause of this incident.”
On Sunday the train remained at Huntingdon station and police in forensic suits and with a police dog were working on the platform.
Leaders express their condolences
Senior politicians and royalty expressed their concern and condolences for the victims and their friends and families.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood paid tribute “to the exceptional courage of the staff and passengers on the train.”
King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “shocked and appalled”.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts go out to all those affected and their loved ones,” the royal couple said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to the emergency services for their response to this terrible incident.”
