CCTV hope in stabbed ticket inspector inquiry
British Transport Police hope CCTV images will help them trace two men after a ticket inspector was stabbed on a C2C train travelling from Essex.
The inspector had asked two men without tickets to leave the 20:20 Southend Central to London Fenchurch Street train at East Tilbury on Friday.
The two, aged about 18, got off but one returned and stabbed him in the back.
The inspector, 42, needed three stitches to the wound and was released from hospital late on Saturday.
Police have asked for any witnesses to the attack, or if anyone recognises the men in the CCTV images, to contact them.
One of the suspects wore a black hooded top and the other a grey flat cap and grey top.
Ch Supt Paul Brogden of British Transport Police said: "This was an appalling and disgraceful attack on a man who was simply doing his job and who had quite rightly asked the men to leave the train.
"Clearly the outcome could have been much worse and it is perhaps through sheer fortune that the member of staff's injuries weren't more serious.
"I'm confident that someone will recognise this pair and urge anyone who does, or the men themselves, to come forward and talk to us.
"We've taken a number of calls as a result of the public appeal but are still keen to hear from anyone with information that could assist the investigation, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
"We know the train would have been fairly busy at the time of the incident and therefore particularly want to hear from anyone who witnessed the events that took place."
The force said there had been four ticket inspectors on the service at the time of the stabbing and that they worked in pairs.
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union has also urged anyone with any information to contact police urgently.
"The perpetrators of this vicious and cowardly assault must be caught and the authorities need to show that those who attack public service workers will be severely punished."