"Our investigation is moving at a rapid pace and we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident," said Deputy Police Chief Stuart Cundy in a press release on Sunday evening.
At 7:42 p.m. local time on Saturday evening, police received the first emergency calls about knife attacks on a train, which was en route from Doncaster to King's Cross station in London.
Police and emergency services were quickly on scene at Huntingdon station, twelve miles north of London, as the police station is right next door. Eight minutes after the first emergency calls, armed police forces had boarded the stopped train and arrested two suspected perpetrators.
The men, aged 32 and 35, are British citizens and born in the UK. The 35-year-old man was released on Sunday and removed from the investigation. The 32-year-old is now seen as the lone perpetrator, suspected of attempted murder.
No terrorist act
A total of ten people were taken to hospital by ambulance and one more person sought treatment themselves. On Sunday evening, the police announced that five people were able to leave the hospital. However, one man is still being treated with life-threatening injuries. He worked on the train and is said to have tried to stop the perpetrator.
The man's actions "were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved people's lives," says Stuart Cundy.
The police are now working to investigate what happened and the motive behind the attack.
"The counter-terrorism police initially supported our investigation. However, at this stage there is nothing to suggest that this is a terrorist act," said Police Commissioner John Loveless during a press conference earlier on Sunday.
“Pure panic”
Passengers testify that "sheer panic" erupted on board as injured people fled through the train, calling for help.
I heard people shouting, "Run, run, there's a guy literally stabbing everyone," eyewitness Olly Foster tells the BBC .
Several passengers also testify that people were trampled when they tried to escape the perpetrators.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on social media that “the terrible incident” was deeply concerning. He also thanked the emergency services and wrote that “our thoughts go out to all those affected.”
