Britain.. An Algerian turns into a hero after saving dozens from certain death | Miscellaneous

British railway worker of Algerian origin, Samir Zitouni, made local newspaper headlines after he single-handedly responded to a mass stabbing attack on an express train, and saved dozens of passengers from certain death in Cambridgeshire this week.

The attack occurred last Saturday evening on a high-speed train heading from Doncaster to London, when a man carrying a knife randomly attacked passengers inside one of the carriages, sparking a state of panic and chaos among the passengers.

According to the British media, Samir Zitouni (48 years old) showed exceptional courage in the situation. While the passengers rushed to get away from the attacker, Zitouni rushed towards him without hesitation, and was able to control him and disarm him using his bare hands, minutes before the policemen arrived.

The British police, who reviewed surveillance camera recordings inside the train, confirmed that what Zitouni did “was heroic by all standards,” noting that his intervention “undoubtedly saved many lives that were threatened.”

Zitouni is currently in hospital due to injuries he sustained during his clash with the attacker. Medical reports indicated that his condition is stable, but he is still undergoing observation and treatment after injuries described as serious.

Samir Zitouni worked for British Rail for more than 20 years, and was famous among his colleagues for his calmness, commitment, and concern for the safety of passengers. The company’s managing director, David Horne, said in an official statement, “At a crucial moment, Samir did not hesitate to defend himself and others. His actions were courageous in every sense of the word, and we are proud of him and all our colleagues who acted valiantly that night.”

The man’s family also issued a brief statement in which they expressed their extreme pride in what he did, saying, “We are very proud of Samir and the courage and bravery he showed. He risked his life to save others, and this is something we will never forget.”

The attack resulted in the injury of 11 people who were taken to hospital, including Zaitouni and 3 other victims who are still in stable condition, while the rest left after receiving treatment.

The police arrested the suspect and charged him with attempted murder, in addition to physically assaulting a policeman after he broke his nose during his detention, as well as possession of a large kitchen knife. Magistrates at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court ordered him detained pending investigation.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect was also involved in previous stabbing incidents, including an attempt to kill a 17-year-old boy on board a train at Pontoon Dock station in east London, in addition to an incident of a knife attack on a 14-year-old boy, which is currently being investigated.