Susanna Reid sparks ITV GMB outrage with 'ludicrous' Huntingdon train attack remark in Transport sec grilling: 'Shame on you!'

On Monday, the 4:28am train from Glasgow to London was derailed at approximately 6:10am near the Cumbrian village of Shap.

There were no major injuries, but four people suffered minor injuries. National Rail has since said the "incident followed a suspected landslip in the area, which has been experiencing significant adverse weather conditions and heavy rainfall continues to compound the issue".

The incident was the second involving a train to hit headlines in the space of 48 hours after a knife attack on a Doncaster to London journey in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, took place on Saturday night.

On Monday, Anthony Williams, 32, of no fixed address, was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder following the knife attack.

He has also been charged with one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of actual bodily harm.

Two British men in their 30s were initially arrested, and police have since said there was "nothing to suggest" it was a terror incident.

Prior to the charges being levelled at Mr Williams, and Network Rail's explanation for the derailment on Monday, Ms Reid and Ed Balls quizzed Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on what was, at the time, a list of unknowns.

"What can you tell us about what’s happening with the Avanti West Coast train that has been derailed?" Ms Reid said as she kicked off the interview.

The Labour MP replied: "So there has been a derailment, I've been in touch this morning with Avanti West Coast, with Network Rail, and also with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. As has been already said, we understand that there are no injuries at present.

"Our priority will be to make sure that we get people off the train safely so they can continue their journeys and get home.

"Then the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will look into why this has happened," she added. "It is an emerging situation.

"I understand that Avanti West Coast has stood up its protocols around a major incident. We may expect some disruption on those lines, but as I say, the information I have at the moment is that there are no injuries."

Following Ms Alexander's explanation, Ms Reid caused controversy as she mused: "I don’t want to speak for anyone who’s on the train, but I imagine if I was on the train this morning and something happened, been derailed, I might wonder what was going on.

"Whether someone's taken charge of the train, or whether there had been some kind of copycat incident based on what happened on Saturday.

"But is this just entirely a separate incident — an unfortunate coincidence — that we’ve had two major incidents with trains in the last 48 to 72 hours?"

Ms Alexander firmly responded: "To my knowledge, this is a complete coincidence, and I would hope that the on-board train staff and the driver would have communicated immediately with the passengers on the train in Cumbria to reassure them about the nature of that incident.

"As I said, our priority now is to make sure we get those people off safely. I know that the emergency services have attended as a precaution. That work will continue now.

"There may be some disruption on the network in that part of the country, but based on the information I have, it’s totally unrelated to the incident - the horrifying attack that we saw on the train at Huntingdon on Saturday night."

Mr Balls then chipped in: "Can we just turn to that Huntingdon incident. Good news that the very brave staff member on the train is in a critical but stable condition. Good news that an individual is in custody. Obviously hugely worrying for everybody that this could happen in such a devastating way — on a normal train, people making normal journeys.

"Very worrying that a second 35-year-old man was arrested and reportedly the same man was tasered on the platform before being released the next day. Can you give us an update on what has happened and what the latest is on both the individual in custody but also the person who was wrongly arrested?"

Ms Alexander answered: "Firstly, Ed, what I would like to do is pay tribute to the enormous bravery and presence of mind of not just the on-board train crew but the driver, the Network Rail signalling staff, and the very swift response of the police.

"From the moment that the first emergency calls came in, only eight minutes elapsed until the individual — who is currently still detained by the police under investigation for attempted murder — was arrested.

"You are right to say that the member of staff who intervened on the train is currently still in hospital in a critical but stable condition. His actions were utterly remarkable. I have spoken to people who have reviewed the CCTV footage from the train.

"This man went to work on Saturday morning to do his job — and he left work as a hero. There are undoubtedly people who are alive today because of his actions, and I want to send my thoughts to him and his family at this moment.

"With respect to the second individual who was arrested on Saturday night, there were witness reports made in good faith that suggested this individual may have been involved in the attacks on the train. Following a review of the CCTV evidence and following an interview with this individual, he was released yesterday.

"You will understand that in a moment like this, when the police receive reports suggesting that someone may have been involved, I suspect it was a very chaotic environment.

"It is right that the police do take appropriate action then to question that individual. So those reports were made in good faith. He was released yesterday."

Despite Ms Alexander's clarification, Ms Reid cut back in to press further: "I think people understand the chaos of the situation and perhaps even the arrest and the questioning. The issue I think people are concerned about is the tasering. Do you have any more information about that? Was he tasered?"

Ms Alexander replied: "So, I don’t have further operational information to share about the immediate response to the incident.

"I was personally reassured by the swiftness of the response from the police — for those emergency calls to come in, and then for eight minutes later, that train to be at a station where the emergency services descended en masse.

"Your viewers will have seen the images. I think it was a very swift, it was a robust response — but I won’t get drawn more into the details of exactly what happened. I don’t have further information to share about that."

It didn't take long following the opening line of questioning from Ms Reid and Mr Balls to Ms Alexander for social media to be awash with irked viewers slamming the "scare-mongering" nature of the probes.

Some even claimed the GMB hosts were attempting to draw parallels between the two train-related incidents, while others claimed more attention should be given to the attack itself rather than an alleged taser incident.

One complaint on X read: "Susanna, stop speculating about the derailment! What you’re doing is tantamount to scaremongering! #GMB."

A second also fumed: "Susanna Reid trying to scare people using a Train... The fact is it is an isolated incident and it could happen anywhere sadly... shall we just not leave our House anymore?? #GMB."

"Proper scaremongering that on @GMB by Susana Reid asking if a train derailment is linked to what happened on Saturday," a third weighed in before a fourth raged: "Susanna actually suggesting the train derailment somehow connected with Saturday's incident? Ludicrous suggestion!"

"F*** off Susannah doing her best to put the fear of God into people about train travel #GMB," added a fifth, while a sixth echoed: "Shame on you @susannareid100 you should be reassuring the public, not making up stories!"

"The reporting of Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on the Huntingdon incident, this morning, has been utter trash. More interested in the ONE unfortunate mistake, (which is unconfirmed), than the carnage itself," a seventh weighed in.

While an eighth suggested: "Can someone tell Susanna that Cumbria has had significant rain overnight with heavy flooding in many places, roads are closed everywhere. So the train derailment is likely due to a landslide rather than any sort of similar incident to Saturday. She should stop speculating. Thanks." (sic)

GB News has contacted Ms Reid's representatives for comment.