The screaming knifeman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after yelling "I'll kill you all" while stabbing the passenger in the chest with a 12-inch blade at Hackney Central.
Terrified travellers recounted how they ran for their lives as the man unleashed the attack on the Overground train as it travelled between Hackney Central and Hackney Wick at rush hour yesterday evening.
Witness Leon Bruff, 29, who was in the same carriage, told The Sun Online the knifeman yelled: "Don't mess with me, I'll kill you" while storming the train full of kids and workers.
But he said brave travellers tried to help the victim on the floor, saying: "He had a newspaper on his chest to stem the bleeding."
The stabbed passenger this morning remains in a serious but stable condition after being taken to hospital.
Did you see what happened or know the victim? Email [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
Dramatic footage released last night showed the moment a man in a red cap was arrested by cops and bundled into a police car outside the busy station.
British Transport Police today confirmed a 55-year-old man from Hackney was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
Recalling the harrowing incident, dad-of-three Mr Bruff told The Sun Online: "The knife was huge — at least a 12 inch blade.
"He was on one. I don't know if he had an argument. He literally went on a rampage. He was going crazy.
"He was shouting: 'Don't mess with me, you wanna f*** with me and I'll kill you all.'
"Everyone was scared for their lives."
Mr Bruff, a Royal Society for Blind Children worker who was returning to his home in Essex, said he rounded on the knifeman with four others.
He said: "The train was packed and everyone ran to the opposite end of the carriage.
"We turned and faced him. There were four of us who surrounded him.
"He raised the knife at us but then the train stopped at Hackney Wick and he got off.
"He was pacing up and down the platform – effing and blinding."
Earlier, witnesses told of their fear on Twitter. One wrote: "Avoid Hackney Central. Some guy just pulled out a knife on my overground train and the staff are saying he stabbed someone. Absolutely terrifying."
Melanie Norton added: "Lots of people running out of Hackney Central saying there's a man with a knife!"
Another wrote: "A man has just gone on a rampage with a knife on a train stopping at Hackney Central.
"He’s been arrested by police but it looks like some people on the train were injured. The train has been evacuated."
Commuter Nick Renaud-Komiya, 28, said he saw a man with a knife.
"There was a sea of people running in my direction, it took me a couple of seconds to register that something wasn't right.
"I saw a guy with a knife in his hand walking towards me, he was shouting a lot but I couldn't get any of what he was saying.
"The police arrived really quickly and they grabbed him and had him hold up against the police car."
Bunmi Ogunleye said he saw the knife attacker waving a blade frantically in front of "terrified" passengers.
He wrote on Twitter: "It was mayhem. I was on the train too. Abt a minute to Hackney Central station.
"I saw the man waving the knife and rambling inaudible words. We were all terrified!
"The guy who got stabbed was running until he collapsed. Bleeding from the chest.
"The response by Hackney Central staff was awful! I dont think they are trained for emergencies at all. Wake up call!"
He added that he believed the knifeman may have been unwell, adding: "I think it was mental health. I didn't hear any argument. I saw the guy waving the knife. He looked unwell tbh".
And passenger Hazel Orton said: "Full on stampede on the train after a man was attacked on the train coming into Hackney Central, 5ft away from where I was sitting, people dropped phones and bags, hope victim is OK."
DCI Sam Blackburn from British Transport Police said: "This was a shocking and violent attack which took place on a busy commuter train. Officers were on the scene within minutes and were able to quickly arrest the suspect and recover the knife.
"We understand that this was a very frightening incident for passengers on the train and at the station and would encourage anyone who witnessed the attack to come forward and tell us what they saw."
DCI Blackburn added: "We have deployed extra officers to provide a reassuring presence in the area."
The incident is not currently being treated as terror related and the suspect remains in custody.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with any information should contact BTP by sending a text to 61016, or by calling 0800 40 50 40 – quoting reference 512 of 02/10/2018.
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