One of the people attacked during a mass stabbing on a busy train in Cambridgeshire has said the knifeman asked him: “Do you want to die?”
One of the people attacked during a mass stabbing on a busy train in Cambridgeshire has said the knifeman asked him: “Do you want to die?” when he confronted him. Stephen Crean, 61, described how he got up from his seat and approached the attacker with nothing but his fists as fellow passengers ran the other way.
Mr Crean was returning home from watching Nottingham Forest draw 2-2 with Manchester United at the time of the incident, The Telegraph reported. Speaking about the attack, he told the newspaper: “All of a sudden the door of the carriage opened, people ran past me and they were shouting: ‘Run, run, run, man’s got knife’,” he said.
“So I let these people run past me, families, women, young lads. Finally they had all packed into the buffet car and the toilets and locked the doors, as you do, and so that was it for me.
“He was on a mission. He knew what he wanted to do and he was going to do it. All of a sudden, this knife comes out, and I went straight for him. I tried to punch him. I was trying to hold his arm, But he caught me on the top of the head.”
Mr Crean said after being stabbed six times, he managed to lock himself in a train bathroom until armed police arrived.
“My motive was to protect people,” he added. “I was scared, but then it went away, you just do whatever, you just go with it.”
It was also revealed on Monday that a professional footballer is among the victims. Scunthorpe United defender Jonathan Gjoshe sustained non life-threatening injuries but remains in hospital, the club said.
The 22-year-old, who signed for the club in September, was slashed across the bicep and has had to have an operation in hospital, it was reported.
“Scunthorpe United can confirm registered player Jonathan Gjoshe was one of the victims affected by the shocking attack on an LNER train bound for London on Saturday evening,” a club statement said.
“We can confirm that Jonathan sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack, but currently remains in hospital.
“Due to the ongoing investigations taking place, we are currently unable to update further.
“Everyone at the club, from the board, management and his teammates, along with all staff behind the scenes, sends our heartfelt well wishes to Jonathan for a full recovery, which is also extended to all the victims on board the train.”
