‘I used to be trapped on Huntingdon practice with knife attackers – this is what the phobia felt like’
The horrific knife attack on the Huntingdon train passengers left nine fighting for their lives as one man on the train described the feeling of ‘pure panic’ on board
Huntingdon: Multiple injuries as terror police probe train stabbing
A passenger who was trapped on the Huntingdon train when a bloody knifing frenzy was launched has given a full account of the terror felt on board. Two British men, aged 35 and 27, were arrested in the aftermath of bloody scenes on the rail service from Doncaster to London’s King Cross at 7.40pm yesterday.
The first reports indicated nine people were fighting for the their lives in hospital and another was seriously injured after the bloody incident. But British Transport Police confirmed today that two remain in critical condition while four have been discharged from hospital.
The train had just left Peterborough when the bloodbath started, sending panic through the carriages. Olly Foster, who described himself as digital creator, was trapped on the train for the 15 minutes it took to get to Huntingdon.
He told his followers on X, formerly Twitter, of the terrifying ordeal as he and other passengers tried desperately to get away from the knife-wielding attackers. He said: “I was on the Huntingdon train.
“We ran from the back of the train to the end as everyone was screaming to run, explaining there was somebody stabbing everyone and everything. At first I thought it was a joke, but quickly I realised they were serious.
“Some people coming thought one of the attackers had a gun, we really didn’t know what we were up against. As I ran I put my hand on a chair, when I looked at my hand it was covered in blood.
“There was blood on the top of countless chairs, coming from two of the guys who had been severely stabbed ahead of me. A young girl was distraught as the attacker tried to stab her, but a hero of an older man got in the way taking a gash on his forehead. And I think another on his neck.
“We all ran to end the of the train and pretty soon we realised it was a short train. Everyone was queued at the front and I was one of the people at the back of that queue.
“I was standing there with a few others trying to find any kind of weapon, one person I knew got ready with a Jack Daniel’s bottle. I had nothing. For what felt like 10 minutes, I watched that carriage doorway waiting to see a figure appear.
“I knew he had a knife from everyone’s wounds but from somebody’s previous comments there was a chance he had a gun. So I stood there praying. We all tried to keep calm but you could feel everyone’s adrenaline.
“The train eventually stopped. And I thank god I didn’t see anybody come through that doorway. Everyone ran out the train at Huntingdon, and as I ran out I looked to my right knowing that’s where the attacker would come.
“And that’s when I saw about 20 people running in pure panic. At least three of which were covered in blood. One guy was holding his stomach of which blood was pouring out, shouting, ‘help help, I’ve been stabbed.’
“We all ran together, being completely unarmed – you really did feel helpless. To the police’s credit, as we left the train station, they were all arriving. The response was really good.
“I’m not sure how travelling on trains will feel after this. I haven’t really processed it all. It felt genuinely surreal and is something I don’t wish anyone to experience.”
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