Multiple people stabbed on train near Cambridge in England

Multiple people were stabbed on a long-distance train that connects London to North East England on Saturday night, authorities in the country said.

Information on the number of victims and the extent of their injuries in the train attack near Huntingdon, England, was unavailable.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the violence “appalling” and “deeply concerning” and said, “My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response.”

Cambridgeshire Police, which patrols the area, said in a statement it received reports of multiple stabbings on board a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train at 7:39 p.m. GMT (3:39 p.m. ET). The train was subsequently stopped at Huntingdon, the department said.

Police at the scene arrested two men, it said. Any allegations against them were not given. Additionally, Cambridgeshire Police said, “A number of people have been taken to hospital.”

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said it received reports of the attack a minute earlier and transported “multiple patients” to a medical facility.

Its response included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, a hazardous response team, and two helicopters used to transport patients, the spokesperson said.

LNER issued a “Do Not Travel” alert for the line, saying train service has been disrupted and those with immediate plans to use it should “defer your travel where you can” and book new seat reservations.

Buses were also being provided for travel between London and points north, including Huntingdon, 77 miles north of the capital, and Peterborough, 22 miles north of Huntingdon, the railway said.

“We are aware of an incident involving one of our trains,” the line, one of England’s four major railways, said. “Our immediate concern is for the welfare of our customers and crew who are on board. We are in the process of gathering all the details we can and are liaising with British Transport Police.”

It’s not clear if the train was traveling northbound or southbound along the line.

The A1307, a country highway Cambridgeshire that leads to the center of Huntingdon, was also closed amid the investigation into the attack, Cambridgeshire Police said.

British Transport Police were leading the probe into the stabbings, the department said.