On the evening of Saturday, November 1, 2025, a routine journey on the London North Eastern Railway from Doncaster to London King’s Cross took a harrowing turn. At approximately 7:42pm, British Transport Police were called to Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire after reports of multiple stabbings on board the 6:25pm express service. The incident, which unfolded just minutes after the train left Peterborough, left passengers scrambling for safety and has since raised urgent questions about security on Britain’s railways.
According to Sky News, the attack erupted suddenly, sending passengers into panic. Some attempted to hide in toilets, while others trampled over seats and each other to escape the chaos. One witness described the scene as akin to a “horror film,” with bloodied passengers pouring out of carriages when the train made its emergency stop at Huntingdon. “I’m still in shock... I’m very emotional, and as soon as I found out, I thought, ‘oh no’,” said Mayor of Huntingdon, Councillor Audrey McAdam, to Sky News. “To live in that moment... it’s a horror film... complete horror. I just cannot imagine what the people must have [been] feeling... When you’re stuck on a train, what can you do? A moving train.”
Emergency services, including armed police from Cambridgeshire Police, paramedics, and air ambulances, responded rapidly. Within eight minutes of the first 999 call, officers boarded the train and arrested two men in connection with the attack. Superintendent John Loveless of British Transport Police confirmed that the suspects—a 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent, both born in the UK—were taken into custody and held at separate police stations for questioning on suspicion of attempted murder.
In total, eleven people were treated in hospital. Nine were initially reported to have life-threatening injuries, and by late Sunday morning, two victims remained in critical condition while four had been discharged, according to Superintendent Loveless. “Following assessment and treatment, four – I’m thankful to say – have been discharged,” he told reporters at Huntingdon railway station. Another official statement from Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, as reported by the UK government’s official website, echoed the gravity of the situation: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.”
Despite the scale and brutality of the attack, police have stated there is “nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist incident,” though counter-terrorism officers initially supported the investigation. The national code word “Plato” was briefly initiated—a protocol reserved for potential marauding terror attacks—but was later rescinded. Authorities have urged the public not to speculate on motives as urgent enquiries continue. “At this early stage, it would not be appropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident,” Superintendent Loveless cautioned.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly responded to the news, describing the stabbings as an “appalling incident” and extending his thoughts to all those affected. “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Other political leaders, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, voiced their own reactions. Badenoch expressed being “deeply disturbed” and later remarked online that “there’s clearly something going wrong in our society right now.” Davey, meanwhile, highlighted the “extraordinary bravery” of those at the scene, calling it the “very best of Britain.”
The incident has also prompted a surge in police presence across the UK rail network. Government sources told the PA news agency that additional officers would be deployed at major railway terminals—including London, Birmingham, York, Leeds, Manchester, and Huntingdon—at least until Tuesday, November 4. The aim is to reassure the public and deter further violence, though as BBC News correspondent noted, the sheer scale of the UK’s rail system makes it impractical and prohibitively expensive to place armed officers or security screening at every station and on every train. “There is no airline-style security at railway stations, and there are very rarely police officers on trains,” the correspondent explained. “It would be almost impossible to have knife arches and x-ray machines at every station. So at the moment it is a vulnerability that we have to accept. Thankfully crimes of extreme violence on trains are rare.”
Passengers and officials alike have reflected on the vulnerability exposed by the attack. Defence Secretary John Healey, who had traveled the same route earlier that day, told Sky News, “It’s the service I use every week to get home to Rotherham, so I can’t begin to imagine how shocked and frightened those passengers were.” He confirmed that the UK’s terror threat level remains “substantial,” meaning an attack is considered “likely,” but not imminent.
In the immediate aftermath, train and road services near Huntingdon faced significant disruption. London North Eastern Railway confirmed to NPR and other outlets that major delays would continue until at least Monday, November 3. National Rail also reported ongoing delays on LNER, Great Northern, and Thameslink services to and from London King’s Cross.
As details of the attack continue to emerge, the focus remains on the recovery of the victims and the investigation into what triggered such a violent outburst. The King and Queen released a statement expressing that they were “truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack,” offering their “deepest sympathy and thoughts” to those affected. Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty praised the “rapid, incredible response” of emergency services and the “brave officers who came to try and neutralise that threat.”
For now, the UK rail community is left to grapple with the aftermath of a rare but devastating act of violence. While authorities work to piece together the motivations behind the attack and to prevent future tragedies, the events of November 1, 2025, serve as a stark reminder of both the vulnerabilities and the resilience found on Britain’s railways.
