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A valiant railway staff member who stepped in to protect passengers during a mass knife attack on a express train has suffered life-threatening wounds, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

Particulars of the Terrifying Event

Surveillance footage allegedly shows the staff member trying to halt the assailant as the train journeyed between Peterborough and another station in Cambridgeshire. Bystanders recounted a frightening 14-minute duration after the train departed Peterborough, with injured victims running through carriages.

The suspect, a 32-year-old citizen from Peterborough, is in detention for questioning. Police declared a significant incident on the 6:25 pm service from Peterborough to King's Cross in downtown London.

Emergency Response and Aftermath

The incident on Saturday night led to 11 people being treated in medical facilities after the train made an unscheduled stop at the station in Huntingdon. Five individuals have since been released from hospital.

A witness recorded the suspect waving a big knife and being subdued with a Taser as he confronted police on the station. He was allegedly heard yelling, "Kill me, end my life."

“This terrible incident has affected many people. We are thinking of the victims and their families – especially the courageous member of rail staff whose family are being assisted by specialist officers,” said a senior police official.

Union Response and Appeals for Action

Rail associations were quick to praise staff and call for increased measures. A labor official said he would be “requesting urgent meetings with authorities, rail employers and police to ensure that we have the strongest available assistance, resources and robust protocols in place”.

A different association representative encouraged the rail company and authorities “to act quickly to examine safety, to support the impacted workers, and to ensure nothing like this occurs again”.

Driver Praised for Quick Thinking

The train driver who halted the train at Huntingdon was described as being “very shaken” but “well”, and has been praised by association officials for doing “exactly the right thing”.

“He didn’t halt the train in the center of two stops where it’s obviously difficult for the first responders to reach, but he carried on going until he arrived to Huntingdon, where the assistance was pretty much waiting,” explained a association representative.

Additional Details

Police said they received the initial distress reports at 7:39 pm, and the train was forced to make an unplanned stop in Huntingdon at 7:50 pm.

One observer recounted at first wondering if the event was a holiday joke, but soon understood from individuals' expressions that it was real.

Police have confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the incident was a terrorist incident and have requested the public to come forward with any additional details.

Train operations on the affected route are expected to have delays until the following day, with travelers advised to defer their journeys where possible.

Individuals with details that could help the investigation are asked to contact police by sending a message a designated number with a case code.