Teenager witnessed his dad being stabbed to death on London-bound train

A teenage boy witnessed his dad being stabbed to death by a stranger on a London-bound train, police have revealed.

Emergency services, including British Transport Police, Surrey Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, were called to Horsley station, in Surrey, at around 1.15pm on Friday after reports of a man being stabbed on the 12.58pm Guildford to London Waterloo train.

The victim, a 51-year-old man, who boarded the train at London Road with his 14-year-old son, died onboard.

Police have declared a major incident and said they are looking for a black man in his 20s or 30s, around 6ft tall, of slim build and with a beard and ‘bright white trainers’.

Superintendent Paul Langley from British Transport Police said: “Traumatically, the victims son would have been nearby when his father was fatally wounded. This would have been an horrific and hugely traumatic event to have witnessed and we are providing him with as much support as possible.

“We know that the suspect also boarded the service at London Road station, however at this time we do not believe they are known to each other.

“We also know that the suspect left the train service at Clandon station, and headed in the direction of Dedswell Drive. There have been a number of sightings in this areas from members of the public and our enquiries are focussing in on these areas.

“We have a number of officers in the area working hard to trace the man responsible for this violent and deadly attack. We are working close with Surrey Police and the National Police Air Service who are helping us to locate him.

“The suspect is a black man, in his twenties to thirties, approximately 6ft tall and of slim build with a beard, believed to be dressed all in black with white trainers.

“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 on board the train, we need to hear from you as soon as possible regardless if you saw what happened or not. Please text us on 61016.

“Finally, I would like to reassure the public that violent events such as this on the rail network are extremely rare.

The scene at Horsley station, in Surrey, shortly after police and paramedics were called following a fatal stabbing onboard the 12.58pm service from Guildford to London Waterloo. (SWNS)

“Over the course of the evening and into tomorrow, we will have extra officers out on duty in the local area to help reassure any concerned passengers and rail staff.

One social media user who said they had been on the train praised the “incredible” response of the guards and driver in a tweet to South Western Railways.

They wrote: “I was on this train, how those guards and especially that train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible. Not sure if it’s appropriate to say thank you, but I do hope everyone is ok after today’s event.”

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 before being joined by “a police van with high-powered lights” as conditions darkened.

“It comes as a big surprise as Clandon is a quiet area that you wouldn’t associate with crime like this,” he said.

“It is definitely unnerving to think there is a murderer maybe somewhere in the village.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling tweeted: “The incident near Horsley is tragic, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim and their family. I urge anyone who witnessed what happened to contact @BTP and @SurreyPolice, by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.”

Matt Phelps, 35, who works at a business on Epsom Road in West Clandon, said police officers provided a description of the man they were hunting – a man with a beard and short hair, who was “not dressed for the weather” in a T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, and strikingly bright white trainers.

He said: “There were also three helicopters circling overhead when we locked up and went home.

“It was a bit alarming when someone I worked with put two and two together and we realised who the police were looking for.

“You sometimes see the police helicopter going over or cars going past with sirens on but to think there was someone like that potentially hiding around the corner somewhere certainly made us want to pack up and go home quicker than usual.”

Natalie Jones tweeted: ‘I was on this train. How those guards and especially the train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible.’

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, from British Transport Police, said: “This was a shocking and violent attack which took place on-board a train in broad daylight. Officers from BTP are with the family and have deployed a specially trained family liaison officer to support them through this difficult time.

“We know that this was an incredibly frightening incident for passengers travelling on the train.

“We believe that the suspect and victim boarded the train at London Road at 1.01pm and we would encourage who was on this train to come forward regardless of whether or not they think they can help our investigation. We believe the suspect departed the train at Clandon station.

“Passengers and members of the public can expect to see an increased presence by BTP and Surrey Police officers at Horsley and Clandon as our enquiries continue.

“We would advise anyone in the local area who sees anyone they think maybe the suspect to contact 999 immediately.”

South Western Railway said the train line between Guildford and Effingham Junction stations towards London Waterloo is blocked while police deal with the incident.

Train services through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised, with the disruption expected to last until 9pm.

Services are not stopping at Clandon or Horsley in the Guildford direction.

Trains from Guildford towards Effingham Junction will be diverted through Woking.

The scene at Horsley station, in Surrey, where police and paramedics were called after a man was murdered onboard the 12.58pm service from Guildford to London Waterloo. (PA)

Rail replacement buses are being provided and train tickets are being accepted on Southern Railway services between Dorking and Clapham Junction and some Stagecoach bus services.

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 210 of 04/01/19.

Alternatively you can phone independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.