The Guardian view on the Huntingdon train stabbings: an immigration-fixated right is failing the public | Editorial

<p>Kneejerk responses undermine the emergency services and contribute to a damaging climate of suspicion</p><p>Witnesses to Saturday evening’s stabbings on a train in Cambridgeshire at first wondered if <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/02/passengers-recount-mass-stabbing-cambridgeshire-train-lner">reports of a knife-wielding attacker </a>were a Halloween prank. As&nbsp;passengers fled through the carriages, some of them bleeding and shouting warnings, it became clear&nbsp;that this was one of those terrible moments when&nbsp;a&nbsp;nightmare comes true.</p><p>LNER staff and the emergency services deserve credit for their swift response. By diverting the high‑speed service to Huntingdon, train driver Andrew Johnson averted a worse disaster. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/02/cambridgeshire-train-stabbings-heroic-lner-staff-member-suffered-life-threatening-injuries">Another crew member</a>, who remains in a critical condition, has been described by police as “heroic”. Five out of 10 people who were injured in the rampage have been discharged. A suspect, Anthony Williams, was arrested&nbsp;at the scene and has appeared in court.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click h