A man has been left in a life-threatening condition after being stabbed on a moving train in south-east London while fellow passengers watched in horror. The police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident, which took place on a train between Shortlands and Beckenham. No arrests have currently been made. Both the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as ambulance services, attended the scene and rushed the victim, who sustained serious injuries, to a major trauma centre.
In social media footage of the attack, passengers can be heard shouting for the attacker, who was wearing a black hooded jacket, black trousers, and a facemask, to stop the assault. The altercation allegedly began between two men as they entered the train at Shortlands station. The identity of the attacker remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. Southeastern Trains, which provided the service on which the attack took place, has given the CCTV footage from the train to the authorities to help with their inquiries.
The incident caused local schools to implement lockdown procedures, with one after-school club bringing all children inside as a precaution. The school has not been named to the public, but parents were urged to remain on the premises until it is safe to travel home. British Transport Police have issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward and provide any information that might aid their investigation.
The attack highlights ongoing concerns over violent crime and knife attacks in the United Kingdom. Offences have increased over the past few years, with London in particular facing a rise in knife crime, often involving young people and gang violence. Metropolitan Police reports suggest that in the year ending in March 2021, there were around 15,000 knife-related offences recorded in London alone. Both the city’s mayor and the government have made combatting knife crime a priority in recent years, through initiatives such as additional funding for police and community groups
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