A counter terror probe has been launched after a knife rampage on a train left nine fighting for their lives. 

Two people were arrested by officers at the scene of the horror near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, with 10 victims rushed to hospital with stab wounds.

Nine are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries, while one has serious but not critical wounds. There have been no fatalities, British Transport Police said in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

The force has declared the attack a 'major incident' and is probing the stabbing spree alongside counter-terrorism police. 

Police had at one point declared Code Plato, a word used by police and emergency services when responding to a 'marauding terror attack'. 

However, this declaration was later rescinded, BTP confirmed.

Thirty officers rushed to the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Doncaster to London King's Cross service after it stopped in the Cambridgeshire town. The attack is believed to have begun shortly after the train left Peterborough. 

Passengers are said to have hid in toilets as one suspect carried a 'big knife', witnesses said, while others claimed they were trampled on as distressed passengers attempted to flee the chaos.

Armed police descended on the platform and 'tasered a man waving a large knife', bystanders also claimed. 

Videos also emerged on social media showing police cars racing to the scene as armed officers raced to the platform at around 7.42pm on Saturday. 

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: 'This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.

'We're conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.

'Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time. Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.

'I thank the public for their patience and their cooperation this evening which has already greatly assisted our policing response. We will update you again as soon as we have more information.'

A passenger named Gavin recalled several people moving through the train during the horror attack, while hearing one say: 'They've got a knife. I have been stabbed.'

'They were making their way through to get away from the suspect,' he told Sky News. 'They were extremely bloodied.

'That person, when we pulled in, they were basically on the floor; we couldn't progress further down the train because that person ended up collapsing.'

'We were ushered out of the station from the platform, and there were multiple people who had been stabbed who were making their way down.'

Passengers were then escorted off the train onto the platform at Huntingdon, he said.

'The armed police were pointing to the suspect as we came off the train.'

Train operator LNER issued a 'do not travel' warning to passengers, saying 'disruption is expected until the end of the day'.

In the hours after the attack, forensic officers could be seen apparently searching for clues on the track at the side of the train, which still had its lights on. 

White-suited specialist officers, including one with a dog were seen entering the station as a police drone hovered overhead.

Another member of the force, also with a police dog, was seen carrying out a sweep of the main station car park.

Eight police vans arrived and parked in a line outside the station shortly before midnight, bringing yet more officers to the scene.

Several people who had left cars in the car park were allowed to retrieve their vehicles.

Two air ambulances responded to the scene, while other paramedics and emergency service personnel were also seen on the platform beside the train. 

More than a dozen police, ambulance and incident support vehicles including several with blue flashing lights remained gathered in the main car park of the station.

Another four police cars blocked entrances to the car parks either side of the tracks to stop onlookers from approaching.

A large group of officers were seen outside the entrance to the main station beside what appeared to be a pile of first aid equipment.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the 'appalling' incident near Huntingdon as 'deeply concerning'. 

'My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,' he said in a statement. 

'Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.' 

The A1307 in the direction of the town centre was closed as the incident remained ongoing, Cambridgeshire Constabulary said. 

Elsewhere, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was 'deeply saddened' by the stabbings. 

'My thoughts go out to all those affected. Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody,' she said.

'I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.'

Secretary of State Heidi Alexander echoed her colleagues' messages while adding that she was being updated on the matter and is working closely with the police.

Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Deeply disturbed by the reports emerging from Huntingdon. 

'This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected, including the emergency responders at the scene.' 

Chris Philip, the shadow Home Secretary, added: 'Horrific scenes in Huntingdon, in what seems to be a brutal mass attack by two perpetrators,' he said.

'My thoughts are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding. 

'The police and government should provide an update on what happened and who has been arrested as soon as possible.' 

Local Labour councillor Alex Bulat voiced her sympathies for those affected amid ongoing reports. 

'Really worrying,' she wrote to Facebook, 'My thoughts are with the victims and their families.' 

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty also told Sky News he had 'never seen as big a response' to an emergency incident at the scene of the attack. 

'I think the swiftness of the response and the number of police who were on the scene when I arrived was simply staggering.'

He described the force's response as 'very reassuring' but also 'terrifying that this incident has occurred in this area.'

Paul Bristow, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said in a statement: 'I am shocked and deeply concerned by this extremely serious incident on a train which was stopped in Huntingdon this evening.

'My first thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected. I want to thank the emergency services, including the police, ambulance crews, and critical care teams, who are responding in what appear to be distressing circumstances.

'Our community will rightly be anxious tonight, and I am seeking further information with relevant authorities as the situation becomes clearer.

'I know people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will join me in keeping all those impacted in our thoughts.'

A BTP spokesperson: 'We can confirm that at 7.42pm today (1 November) British Transport Police were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King's Cross.

'Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.

'Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident who have been taken to police custody.

'Ten people have been taken to hospital with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.

'This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident.'

Anyone with information has been urged to contact the BTP by texting 61016 quoting reference 663 of 01/11/25. 

A Cambridgeshire Police statement said: 'Two men have been arrested by police this evening after more than 30 officers were called to Huntingdon Train Station.

'We were called at 7.39pm with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train.

'Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital.

'The incident remains ongoing and the A1307 has been closed as you approach the town centre.'

An East England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 7.38pm to reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train. 

'We mobilised a large-scale response to Huntingdon Railway Station which included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, our Hazardous Area Response Team and critical care teams, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and Magpas Air Ambulance

'We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital.'

A LNER spokesperson said: 'Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident at Huntingdon all lines are blocked.

'Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

'Please check before you travel.'

Elsewhere, several train routes were impacted, including Hull Trains to Hull and LNER trains to Lincoln, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, and Harrogate. 

Thameslink trains between Horsham, Kings Cross and Peterborough were also affected.