Heidi Alexander has dismissed the idea of installing metal-detector scanners at railway stations, saying it would 'make life impossible' for passengers. The transport secretary's comments come after a mass stabbing on a high-speed train near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, which left 10 people injured.
A member of train staff who intervened during the attack remains critically ill in hospital but is now in a stable condition, Alexander confirmed. She said there is no evidence of a terrorist motive, and declined to comment on the suspect's mental health after witnesses reported he spoke about the devil and asked police to kill him.
Alexander announced visible patrols of British Transport Police officers at stations for the next few days to reassure passengers, but ruled out airport-style security measures. 'We have thousands of railway stations across the UK, and those stations have multiple entrances, multiple platforms. What we can’t do is make life impossible for everyone,' she told Sky News.
A review of train security is under way, which Alexander said could consider other measures, citing the example of vehicle blockers installed on bridges after the 2017 London Bridge attack. She emphasised that public transport remains safe, with only 27 crimes per million passenger journeys.
The 32-year-old suspect, a British national from Peterborough, is being questioned. Alexander stated he was not known to counter-terrorism police, security services, or the Prevent programme. She praised the bravery of the injured staff member, saying 'there are people who are alive today because of his actions.'
