19-year-old man arrested for attempted murder after stabbing on train

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed on a train in front of horrified passengers.

British Transport Police were called to Beckenham Junction station shortly before 4pm on Wednesday following reports of a fight on board the train from Shortlands station.

Footage posted online showed passengers shouting at the attacker to stop as he brandished the large knife.

The chilling footage showed the attacker brandishing a large machete-like knife and repeatedly pushing himself towards the out-of-reach victim on a train seat, while nearby passengers desperately called police and paramedics.

A man in his 20s is in a critical but stable condition following the attack and his family is being supported by specialist officers.

In the footage, an audibly shaken passenger can be heard saying: “Fuck, stop that now”, before adding to a 999 call handler: “There is a man with a large knife… This man is to stab someone on the ground. form.”

Another can be heard asking: “Where's the ambulance, where's the ambulance?”

A manhunt was launched with forensic tests carried out on the carriage and images captured by the train's CCTV analyzed in detail. British Transport Police said they arrested a 19-year-old man and recovered a knife.

Superintendent Darren Malpas said: “We understand the public’s concerns following this incident and our detectives have worked tirelessly to investigate. I hope this arrest will bring some comfort to users of the rail network.

“High visibility patrols will continue in the region and across the network to visibly reassure the traveling public. »

Separately, two people remain in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in a “senseless” attack by a stranger at Kennington tube station on Wednesday evening.

Officers and paramedics were alerted to reports that an innocent man had been injured on the northbound platform at 10.35pm.

Detective Inspector Paul Attwell said the second man “was injured after bravely intervening to try to prevent the attack”.

BTP confirmed that the two incidents on Wednesday were not linked.

Anyone with information can contact police by texting 61016, calling 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.