UK police say train stabbings carried out by lone attacker, not terrorism

A 32-year-old British man is the sole suspect accused of a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England, after another man arrested in the case was released on Sunday without charge.

British police said the knife attack that left 11 people hospitalized was not being treated as a terrorist incident. A 35-year-old man who had been arrested earlier was released after officers concluded he was not involved in the attack.

By late Sunday, five of the injured had been discharged from the hospital. Among those still receiving treatment was a train crew member who had tried to stop the attacker and was in life-threatening condition, police said.

"Detectives have reviewed the CCTV from the train, and it is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people's lives," police said.

Counterterrorism police were involved in the initial investigation after the train mass stabbing, but authorities later stated there was no evidence to suggest the incident was terrorism-related.

Police said efforts were now underway to determine the events leading up to the attack and to learn more about the suspect's background. A knife was also recovered from the scene.

"Our investigation is moving at pace and we are confident that we're not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident," Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said in a statement.

Police described the sole suspect as a Black British national from Peterborough, 160 kilometers north of London, who had boarded the train there.

The suspect was arrested by armed police after the train made an emergency stop at Huntingdon around 129 km north of London.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it an "appalling incident" that was "deeply concerning," while King Charles said he was "truly appalled and shocked."

Knife crime in England and Wales has risen by 87 percent over the past decade, with 54,587 offenses recorded last year – a 2 percent increase from 2023 – placing the country among those with the highest rates in Europe, according to Britain's interior ministry.

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said she was "deeply saddened," while urging people to avoid speculation about the incident.

The government is also eager to curb the spread of misinformation on social media following a 2024 incident in Southport, northwest England, when online rumors about the murder of three young girls triggered days of rioting across the country.

Witness Olly Foster told the BBC he was on the train heading towards London on Saturday evening when someone ran past him saying a man was stabbing "everyone, everything."

"I put my hand on this chair... and then I look at my hand, and it's covered in blood. And then I look at the chair, and there's blood all over the chair. And then I look ahead and there's blood on all the chairs," he recalled.

Another witness told Sky News that a suspect was seen waving a large knife before being tasered by police.