British Transport Police are searching for a man who allegedly bit a passenger's finger so severely that it caused nerve and ligament damage, after threatening to kill everyone on a train traveling from London Cannon Street to Orpington in Surrey.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, when the suspect suddenly became abusive and aggressive toward fellow passengers, according to police. He reportedly threatened to kill those on board before attacking a man he did not know.
Passengers intervene but suspect bites victim
Other passengers attempted to restrain the assailant, but the suspect bit another male passenger's finger, biting down with enough force to cause a deep injury involving nerve and ligament damage, police said. The attacker continued to behave aggressively, attempting to assault other passengers as they disembarked at New Cross station.
British Transport Police have released a CCTV image of the suspect, who was wearing a cap with eyes printed on it, a turquoise and black puffer jacket, and grey jeans. Officers believe the man may have information that could assist the investigation and are urging him or anyone who recognizes him to come forward.
London travel safety statistics
London's public transport and rail networks carry millions of passengers daily. In 2025, the rate of violent incidents on the Transport for London (TfL) network increased slightly to 4,703, up from 4,478 in 2024. The majority of violent incidents occurred on the Underground, with 1,484 offences recorded, followed by buses with 1,398. The Elizabeth line saw an increase of 94 offences in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Most incidents were classified as violence without injury. Westminster Tube station recorded the highest number of offences in 2025 with 589 reports, followed by Newham with 344, and Camden with 310. The peak time for offending was during the evening commute between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Serious injuries and crime rates on TfL
In the 2025/26 period, four people were killed and 173 seriously injured on the TfL network. The majority of serious injuries involved buses (77), followed by the Underground (72). Despite these figures, travel on TfL services remains relatively safe, with a crime rate of 2.6 per million passengers.
Among National Rail stations, Euston recorded the most crime last year with 1,536 offences, followed by King's Cross (1,479) and London Bridge (1,074).
