When faced with mortal peril, the average member of the British public might prefer to defend themselves with something more robust than a bottle of whiskey.

Last Saturday, passengers on board a train found themselves in this dire predicament. The ‘frail / Travelling coincidence’ – as Philip Larkin described the same journey through Doncaster to King’s Cross – took a terrifying turn when a knifeman went on a stabbing spree and injured 11 people.

No wonder this nightmarish attack has revived discussions about personal safety

Witness Olly Foster recalled that a group of passengers fled until they reached the end of the carriage. Trapped, they stared down the aisle and prayed the assailant wouldn’t pursue them. In a bid to defend themselves, they searched for an item to use as a makeshif

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