The suspect in the stabbing attack on a train from Doncaster to London said “the devil’s not going to win” as he came at passengers with a knife, an eyewitness has said. Two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but one has now been relerased. The attack, which is not being treated as terror-related, came on Saturday evening on a high-speed train in Cambridgeshire.
Police said they are a 32-year-old black British national and a 35-year-old British national of Caribbean descent were detained. Ten people were taken to hospital by ambulance after the train stopped in Huntingdon, with another later self-presenting themself later in the evening. Superintendent John Loveless, of British Transport Police, on Sunday morning said two remained in a “life-threatening condition”, while four had been discharged.
Couple Dayna Arnold, 48, and Andy Gray, 37, were on the back end of the LNER train when the attack began.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Arnold recalled an attacker coming at her and making a six-word remark of “the devil’s not going to win”.
She said: “I got knocked into some seats. I saw the knifeman running, he came at me with the knife. I said ‘please, please don’t’.
“Then something changed in his eyes and he said ‘the devil’s not going to win.’”
Police have remained on the scene at Huntingdon railway station all day, with forensic teams pictured inside the train.
Officers have also been seen walking in a line looking at the ground in the car park, examining bushes and looking inside a bin.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood earlier said she is “receiving regular updates from the police”.
The King, in a message released by Buckingham Palace, said: “My wife and I were truly appalled and shocked to hear of the dreadful knife attack that took place on board a train in Cambridgeshire last night.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with all those affected, and their loved ones.
“We are particularly grateful to the emergency services for their response to this awful incident.”