A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a mass stabbing on a train near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, which left nine people with life-threatening injuries. The attack occurred on a London North Eastern Railway service from Doncaster to London King's Cross on Saturday evening.
British Transport Police confirmed that a 32-year-old man, now treated as the sole suspect, was arrested at the scene after being shot with a Taser. The incident prompted a major emergency response, with police initially declaring a 'marauding terror attack' code before later rescinding the alert.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers fled through carriages, with one reporting 'blood everywhere' and people being trampled. An older passenger was praised for shielding a young girl from the attacker, sustaining head and neck injuries in the process.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as 'deeply concerning', as the government continues efforts to tackle knife crime, which has been rising since 2011. The interior ministry reported that nearly 60,000 blades have been seized or surrendered in England and Wales as part of a campaign to halve knife crime within a decade.
The court heard that the sentencing reflects the severity of the attack, which left victims with serious injuries. The defendant was also handed an extended licence period to protect the public upon release.
