Vandals smash train windows with catapults around Cambridge station

Rail commuters will see more police on duty after vandals with catapults smashed train windows as they passed through a city.

Around six attacks took place on Greater Anglia and Great Northern trains travelling between Cambridge and Cambridge North Railway station between Saturday 18 January and Sunday 2 February.

No-one was injured and the "projectiles" used to smash the windows did not pass through the glass, although some services were cancelled or delayed, according to British Transport Police (BTP).

Det Insp Charlotte Collins, from BTP, said: "These are very serious incidents of endangering safety on the railway and can incur a significant custodial sentence.

"Passengers will see an increased police presence in the area and we are working with the rail industry to tackle this issue."

They are also appealing for witnesses.

Insp Sophie Hallwood, said the BTP believed catapults were used in the attacks and that ball bearings had been found in the nearby area.

She added that pigeons had been shot at and windows broken near the Cambridge stations, which were potentially linked to the train vandalism.

The officer said it was thought children or teenagers were behind the attacks, and urged parents in the area to be aware of what their children were doing.

Nigel Gibson, ASLEF's full-time organiser in the East of England, said: "Our members raised very serious concerns for the safety of passengers and train crew after a series of incidents just south of Cambridge North station when projectiles were aimed at – and hit – services on the line.

"We are working closely with Greater Anglia and the other operators to resolve this problem as quickly as possible."

Around 15 extra police officers have been on patrol at both Cambridge and Cambridge North stations since Monday.

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