'I thought it was a prank for Halloween - then people covered in blood appeared'

Witnesses have spoken of their terror after 11 people were injured in a mass stabbing on a London-bound train.

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

Dozens of travellers were forced to barricade themselves into carriages and try to shield themselves from the brutal stabbings, which took place on the 6.25pm Doncaster to London LNER service on Saturday.

The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, where around 30 police officers boarded and arrested two people.

When Alistair Day missed his connection back to Hertford after a day out at the football, he hopped on the 6.25pm service travelling from Doncaster to King's Cross.

Shortly after he boarded, he visited the buffet car – then saw people running towards him in what he initially thought was a “prank”. He then noticed they were covered in blood, desperately seeking somewhere to hide after a knifeman unleashed the attack.

Mr Day, 58, told the BBC he was one of dozens of eyewitnesses who were forced to barricade themselves inside the carriage in the eight minutes between the first 999 call and the arrests.