Only one of two men detained after a knife attack on a train in eastern England remains a suspect, British police said on Sunday evening, with the other released without charge. She also stated that one of the injured is still in danger. TASR informs about it according to Sky News.
Police previously announced that they had detained two British nationals – a 32-year-old black man and a 35-year-old man of Caribbean origin – following the attack on a train near Huntingdon on Saturday night. In the case of the second of them, the investigation did not prove participation in the crime.
Accused of attempted murder
A 32-year-old resident of the nearby city of Peterborough remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, Deputy Police Chief Stuart Cundy said. He added that the police found a knife at the crime scene. The police do not consider the attack to be terrorist.
At least 11 people were injured in the attack and taken to the hospital. Five of them have since been released, but one is still fighting for his life. This is an employee of the railway company LNER, who tried to stop the attacker. “After viewing the footage from the train camera, I can say that the actions of this member of railway staff were heroic and undoubtedly saved lives,” Cundy said.
Increasing number of attacks
The passengers were stabbed as the train, which had left Doncaster in northern England for London, was about halfway through its two-hour journey and was approaching Huntingdon, a few miles northwest of Cambridge. Of the 11 people taken to hospital, nine had life-threatening injuries.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Saturday’s incident as “terrifying and extremely disturbing.” King Charles III. together with his wife Kamila expressed dismay and shock. “Our deepest sympathies and thoughts go out to all those affected and their loved ones. We are extremely grateful to the emergency services for their response to this horrific incident,” the royal couple said.
According to official figures, the number of knife attacks in Britain has been increasing since 2011, which Starmer says is a “national crisis”. Almost 60,000 knives have therefore been “seized or handed in” across England and Wales as part of efforts to halve the number of such crimes over a decade, the Home Office said on Wednesday.
