A senior Reform politician has blasted the Home Secretary’s initial comments in the wake of the attack.
Laila Cunningham tore into the Home Secretary (Image: Getty)
Senior Reform UK politician Laila Cunningham has torn into the Home Secretary’s request for people to avoid speculating about last night’s Huntingdon train mass stabbing. Following the attack that has left nine people with life-threatening injuries, Shabana Mahmood said her thoughts “go out to all those affected”.
She added: “I am receiving regular updates on the investigation. I urge people to avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.” Responding to the tweet, London councillor Laila Cunningham – who is likely Reform’s candidate for the next London mayoral election – accused the top Labour politician of wanting Brits “to shut up and die”. Ms Cunningham blasted: “I can’t stop thinking about those victims, 10 beautiful lives, families in agony waiting to see if they pull through, I am devastated. We are a nation in mourning.
The attack has left 10 people in hospital (Image: Getty)
“And Shabana’s first instinct isn’t fury, urgency or a vow to catch them or make our trains safe. Her priority is to silence us, to manage our reaction not our safety.
“A train was turned into a war zone, what’s next? We are now sitting ducks.
“Our great nation is desperate for leaders that feel our fury, our fears and are ruthlessly focused on keeping us safe. Instead we have leaders who want us to shut up and die.”
It came after Nigel Farage demanded answers, with both the Home Office and the Met yet to confirm a number of key details.
The Reform UK leader said: “The attack last night in Huntington was horrific.
“My thoughts are with all the victims and their families.
“We need to know who committed these awful attacks as soon as possible.”
Nigel Farage demanded answers (Image: Getty)
It is not yet known whether the attack is being treated as a terrorist incident. The British Transport Police declared a major incident, and at one point declared “Plato”, the codeword used when responding to a terrorist incident, however this was later rescinded.
Two people have been arrested by the police, one of whom a witness said appeared to have been Tasered.
The eye-witness reported the knife-wielder to be a Black man dressed in black clothing.
Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage.
One told The Times there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee.
The witness said: “I heard some people shouting we love (you).”
The Sun said another witness described the attack as “like something from a film”, adding: “It was a terrible scene, really violent.”
