Nine people have been left with life-threatening injuries and two men have been arrested following a series of stabbing attacks on a train at Cambridgeshire in eastern England.

According to The Guardian, the British Transport Police are investigating the incident with the support of the counterterrorism police.

The transport police also confirmed that they had issued the code word"Plato" for a "marauding terror attack", which was then later rescinded.

The motive for the attack has not been disclosed.

Passengers reportedly seen bloodied, scrambling to get away

The police said the attack happened on the 6:25pm (2:25am Singapore time) train travelling from Doncaster to London's King Cross.

They were alerted to the attack at about 7:39pm (3:39am Singapore time).

A witness was quoted by the BBC as saying that when the train pulled into Huntingdon station at 8pm (4am Singapore time), he saw multiple passengers running down the platform while bleeding.

Other witnesses told Sky News they saw people trampling over others, while others hid in the toilets, in a bid to escape.

One of the attackers was also reportedly tasered by the police before being arrested.

Along with the police, multiple ambulances and a hazardous response team were deployed to the station.

The London North Eastern Railway also issued a warning that the station had been closed and all lines had been blocked.

UK PM calls incident"appalling"

The UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "appalling".

Meanwhile, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, called on the public to avoid comment and speculation.

The managing director of London North Eastern Railway, David Horne, said the company is"deeply shocked and saddened by this serious incident".

The disruption to train services is expected to last until Nov. 3, with passengers advised to defer their travel where possible.