A 32-year-old British man was the only suspect in the mass stabbing on a train in England, after another man arrested in the case was released on Sunday without charge.
British police have confirmed that the knife attack, which left 11 people hospitalized, was not a terrorist attack. A 35-year-old man who had been arrested earlier was released after officers concluded he was not involved in the attack.
By Sunday night, five of the injured had been discharged from the hospital. Among those still receiving treatment was a train crew member who tried to stop the attacker and was in critical condition, police said.
"Detectives have reviewed the train's security camera footage and it is clear that his actions were heroic and undoubtedly saved the lives of many people," police said.
Police investigation
Counter-terrorism police assisted in the initial investigation following the mass stabbing of passengers on a train in eastern England on Saturday, but police later stated there was no indication the incident was a terrorist act.
Police are currently working to clarify the events that led to the attack and the suspect's background. A knife was also recovered at the scene.
“Our investigation is progressing rapidly and we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident,” Deputy Commissioner Stuart Cundy said in a statement.
Police described the sole suspect as a black British citizen from Peterborough, 160 km north of London, who had boarded the train there.
Armed police board the train
The suspect was arrested by armed police after the train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, about 130 km north of London.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a “horrific incident” and “deeply worrying,” while King Charles said he was “truly dismayed and shocked.”
Knife crime in England and Wales has increased by 87% in the last decade, with 54,587 offenses last year alone, a 2% increase from 2023 and one of the highest rates in Europe, according to figures from the British Home Office.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her “deep sadness” and urged the public to avoid speculation about the incident. The government is determined to curb the spread of rumors on social media following an incident in Southport, northwest England, in 2014, when online claims about the murder of three girls sparked days of rioting across the country.
Blood on all the chairs
Witness Olly Foster told the BBC that on Saturday night he was traveling by train to London when someone ran past him saying that a man was stabbing “everyone”.
“I put my hand on a chair… and then I looked at my hand and it was covered in blood. Then I looked at the chair and it was covered in blood. And then I looked ahead and there was blood on all the chairs,” he said.
