The suspect being sought over the stabbing of a man on a train in Surrey has
been arrested along with another person, British Transport Police said early on Saturday.
The victim, who was believed to be 51, is not thought to have known his attacker, British Transport Police said. He suffered multiple stab wounds and died at the scene.
Officers said they were called to Horsley station at 1.15pm on Friday after a report that a man had been stabbed onboard the 12.58pm service from Guildford to London Waterloo. It is thought the attacker left the train at Clandon, the stop between Guildford and Horsley.
At a press conference on Friday night, Supt Paul Langley from the BTP said: “What we know at the moment is that the victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London Road station in Guildford, along with his 14-year-old son.
“Traumatically, the victim’s son would have been nearby when his father was fatally wounded. This would have been a horrific and hugely traumatic event to have witnessed and we are providing him with as much support as possible.”
He said the suspect is a black man, in his 20s or 30s, approximately 6ft tall and of slim build with a beard. He was said to be dressed all in black with white trainers.
Langley added: “At this moment, I would ask the public to please contact police urgently by calling 999 if they see anyone matching this description – please do not approach him.
“Our major investigation continues and we are appealing for witnesses to get in touch. If you were onboard the train, we need to hear from you as soon as possible regardless if you saw what happened or not.”He said the knifeman left the train service at Clandon station, and headed in the direction of Dedswell Drive.
“There have been a number of sightings in these areas from members of the public and our inquiries are focusing in on these areas,” he added.
Police believe the attacker and victim boarded the train at London Road station in Guildford at 1.01pm. A South East Coast ambulance service spokesperson said crews were called to Horsley station at about 1.30pm. “Despite the best efforts of everyone, a man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene,” they said.
Oliver Thompson, a 16-year-old student living in Clandon, said he was stopped by police in the area at roughly 2.30pm and asked if he had seen a “man running from the station”.
A little later he saw police helicopters circling the area and “a police van with high-powered lights” as conditions darkened. “It is definitely unnerving to think there is a murderer maybe somewhere in the village,” he said.
Writing on Twitter, Natalie Jones said she had been on the train. “How those guards and especially that train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible,” she wrote. “Not sure if it’s appropriate to say thank you, but I do hope everyone is OK after today’s event.”South Western Railway said the train line between Guildford and Effingham Junction towards London Waterloo was blocked for almost seven hours while police responded to the incident.
The train operator said all lines had been reopened with services returning to normal, but warned that some trains on the route might be delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised. The disruption was expected to last until 11pm.
Replacement buses were earlier laid on for passengers and tickets were being accepted on some Southern Railway and Stagecoach bus services.
The Department for Transport tweeted a statement from Chris Grayling, the transport secretary: “The incident near Horsley is tragic, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim and their family.”