A devoted father stabbed to death on board a train had been on his way to London to celebrate his birthday with his 14-year-old son, his family revealed today.

Lee Pomeroy, would have been 52-yesterday, but died on Friday afternoon when he was stabbed in the neck during a brief argument with a fellow passenger on a train in Surrey.

Mr Pomeroy, an IT consultant, who lived with his wife, Svetlana, and teenage son in Guildford, was described as an honourable man who was always willing to help those in trouble.

In a statement, his devastated family said: “Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by an horrific and pointless attack.

The statement went on: “Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents. He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in Maths.</s>The suspect being sought over the stabbing of a man on a train in Surrey has been arrested along with another person, British Transport Police said.

The victim, 51, was on the 12.58 from Guildford, in Surrey, to London Waterloo when he suffered the fatal injury in front of terrified commuters.

He had been travelling with his 14-year-old son yesterday, who is also believed to have witnessed his father's murder.

Police say the suspect left the train at Clandon station and headed in the direction of Dedswell Drive. The train then pulled into Horsley station.

Supt Paul Langley, of British Transport Police, said in a statement last night: “Tragically, as a result of this stabbing, a man believed to be 51 years old, was pronounced dead on board the train. Early indications suggest he received multiple stab wounds to his body.

“What we know, at the moment, is the victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London Road station in Guildford, along with his 14-year-old son.

“Traumatically, the victim’s son would have been nearby when his father was fatally wounded.

“We know that the suspect also boarded the service at London Road station, however... we do not believe they are known to each other.”

Police said he is a black man, in his 20s to 30s, 6ft tall and of slim build with a beard, believed to be dressed in black, with white trainers.

Officers remained in Clandon and Horsley as they tried to trace the culprit. A police helicopter circled overheard last night as the hunt for the knifeman continued.

One train passenger last night praised rail staff, saying: “I was on this train, how those guards and especially that train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible.”

Witnesses said punches were thrown and the victim was then stabbed in the neck.

One woman passenger, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a lot of blood everywhere in the carriage. I don’t think the poor chap stood a chance.

“The police who were here first started to give him CPR but it was apparently too late to save him and he died while the train was in the station.”

The victim’s body was seen being carried over the station footbridge by police and morgue workers.</s>Police have launched a murder inquiry after a man was stabbed to death on a train in Surrey.

Emergency services were called to Horsley station at 1.15pm.

The victim suffered a "fatal stab wound" and died at the scene, police said, despite the "best effort" of officers and paramedics.

Officers are now in the Clandon area, attempting to "identify and trace the man responsible for this assault".

There have been no arrests so far.

The train was travelling between Guildford and London Waterloo.

"We know that this was an incredibly frightening incident for passengers travelling on the train," said Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson from British Transport Police.</s>Google Street View The suspect involved in Friday's incident departed the train at Clandon station in Surrey, police said.

A passenger was stabbed to death during a “shocking and violent attack” on a packed train in Surrey, police said.

Officers were called to the South Western Railway service from Guildford to London Waterloo just after 1pm on Friday.

The incident was described as “incredibly frightening” for those onboard, with the victim declared dead after desperate attempts by police and paramedics to save his life.

The suspect departed the train at Clandon station, detectives added, as a murder investigation is launched.

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, from British Transport Police (BTP), said: “This was a shocking and violent attack which took place on-board a train in broad daylight.

“Officers from BTP are with the family and have deployed a specially trained family liaison officer to support them through this difficult time.</s>The suspect being sought for the stabbing of a man on a train in Surrey has been arrested, British Transport Police say.

A 51-year-old man died after suffering multiple knife wounds during a "vicious fight" on board a Guildford to London train on Friday afternoon.

He was killed in front of his 14-year-old son.

The victim and the attacker both got on the train at London Road station in Guildford at about 13:00 GMT.

Police believe the pair were not known to each other.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan told BBC Breakfast: "I can confirm this morning that we have arrested who we believe to be the suspect in relation to this violent offence and also another person involved as well.

"Those arrests have taken place in an address in the Surrey area this morning."

Mr O'Callaghan described the sequence of events detectives know to have taken place on the train.

He said: "We now know from enquiries we've been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes.

"It moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death."

Mr O'Callaghan also said detectives are confident with the arrests they have made and no-one else was being sought in connection with the killing at this time.

You may also be interested in:</s>The man who was stabbed to death on a train in Surrey in front of his son has been named as Lee Pomeroy.

The 51-year-old was traveling from Guildford to London Waterloo station with his 14-year-old son when he was attacked a day before his 52nd birthday.

Today his family have paid tribute and said: ‘Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by horrific and pointless attack.

‘Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents. He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in Maths.

‘He was devoted family man and did everything for his family. He was an honourable man and would always help somebody who was in trouble.

‘He was a loving husband and father, he will be deeply missed by all his family.’

Following the attack, the suspect went on the run but he was detained at an address in the Farnham area at around 6am this morning on suspicion of murder.

A 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and no-one else was being sought in connection with killing.

British Transport Police said: ‘The family of a Guildford father, who was killed in a violent assault on board a train yesterday, have paid tribute to him on what would have been his 52nd birthday.

‘Lee Pomeroy, 51, was stabbed multiple times following an altercation on-board a Guildford to London Waterloo train at around 1pm.

‘The married father of one, was on his way into London with his 14-year-old son for a day out when the deadly incident happened.

‘The family are appealing for privacy at this difficult time as they come to terms with their loss.’

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan said earlier: ‘We now know from inquiries we’ve been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes, it moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death.’

‘The attack happened on the 12.58 service between Guildford and London Waterloo on Friday.

‘The victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London Road station in Guildford with his son.

‘The killer, described as a black man in his 20s to 30s, approximately 6ft tall and of slim build with a beard, also boarded the service at London Road.’

Police say the knifeman left the train at Clandon station and headed in the direction of Dedswell Drive. The train continued to Horsley station where police and paramedics attended.

A woman who lives in Clandon reportedly told other villagers that she had spoken to a ‘very sweaty and nervous’ man in a field near her home afterwards.

Philip Herrington, the Rector of St Mary’s Church , West Horsley, visited Horsley train station on the afternoon of the attack and the following morning.

He said: ‘I thought I’d come and bring some flowers because you don’t really expect anything like this to happen generally, not in a place like this, not on a midday train.’

‘It’s totally lamentable what happened and particularly for the young son to have witnessed what he witnessed.’

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more follows.</s>These are external links and will open in a new window

A man has been stabbed to death in front of horrified passengers on board a train in Surrey.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the man was stabbed on board the 12:58 Guildford to London Waterloo service.

An eyewitnesses has told the BBC that there was a "vicious fight" on a London-bound service.

The train is currently being held at Horsley railway station, in the village of East Horsley, and emergency services remain at the scene.

Officers have launched a search for a murder suspect in the surrounding area.

It is believed the offender left the train at Clandon railway station.

Police said a number of officers were now in the Clandon area trying to find the man responsible.

Det Supt Gary Richardson said it was a "shocking and violent attack which took place on board a train in broad daylight".

He said it was an "incredibly frightening" incident for passengers on the train.

Police believe the suspect and victim boarded the train at London Road at 13:01 GMT.

He said: "We would encourage who was on this train to come forward regardless of whether or not they think they can help."

No arrests have been made.

South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed crews were called to the station at about 13:30 and were joined by police and the Surrey Air Ambulance.

A statement issued by the ambulance trust said: "Despite the best efforts of everyone, a man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene."

Rail services are suspended between Guildford and Effingham Junction.

South Western Trains have tweeted that the line towards Waterloo is blocked.

A statement on the SWT website said: "We have been informed that the police are dealing with an incident between Clandon and Horsley.

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"Until the police have carried out their investigations the line between Guildford towards Effingham Junction is currently blocked."

Replacement bus services are being brought in.</s>A manhunt was under way last night after a man was stabbed to death in front of his 14-year-old son on a train.

Police said that the victim was thought to be 51 and had multiple wounds. He had boarded the 12.58pm service to London Waterloo from Guildford in Surrey. The suspect got on at the same station but he and the victim were not thought to have known each other.

Witnesses described a “vicious fight” that left pools of blood in the carriage. The suspect left the train at Clandon station, also in Surrey. The train was stopped and evacuated at Horsley, the next stop, where up to 30 passengers alighted as paramedics tried to revive the victim.</s>A 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, police said.

Officers attended an address in the Farnham area at around 6am on Saturday where the man, whose age is yet to be confirmed, was detained on suspicion of murder.

The suspect being sought over the stabbing of a man on a train in Surrey has been arrested along with another person, British Transport Police said.

They added that the victim and the suspect had been involved in an altercation lasting just three minutes after boarding the train, before the victim suffered multiple stab wounds in an episode of “extraordinary violence”.

Police said on Saturday that investigators were now confident the incident “was not a random assault”.

It was confirmed on Friday evening that the 51-year-old victim of the incident had been travelling onboard the South Western Trains service with his 14-year-old son.

SWNS Detectives are continuing to investigate the killing of a 51-year-old onboard a train in Surrey on Friday.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan told BBC Breakfast that enquiries had found that the two men were involved in a “verbal discussion” which lasted “from three to four minutes” from one carriage to another.

“That argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death,” O’Callaghan said.

Detectives had earlier said the two men were not thought to have known each other, and it is unclear at this stage as to whether this has changed beyond confirmation of the three-minute altercation.

“This is, as far as we can see at this moment in time, an incident that has occurred when two men have been talking to one another, opposed to a random attack on a train,” O’Callaghan explained.

O’Callaghan said officers were providing specialist support to the son of the victim.

He said the man’s son was “present at the start of the argument”, adding: “He was certainly present throughout the aftermath.”

“A young boy has been present when his father has lost his life and we are doing all that we can to support where we can,” O’Callaghan added.

The incident began just after 1pm on Friday as the London Waterloo-bound service passed through the leafy Surrey commuter belt.

Both the suspect and victim boarded the train at London Road station east of Guildford, with the altercation taking place almost immediately after.

The suspect fled the train at the next stop, Clandon, and was seen by witnesses running through the small village.

Desperate attempts to save the victim were made when the train stopped at the following station, Horsley, before he was pronounced dead at the scene.</s>Horsley railway station in Surrey where police battled to save a passenger stabbed on the train to Waterloo ALAMY

A knifeman is being hunted in a Home Counties village after a passenger was stabbed to death on a London-bound train at lunchtime today.

Detectives were called to Horsley station in Surrey after reports that a man had been stabbed shortly before 1pm on a South Western train from Guildford to Waterloo.

Officers are scouring Clandon, the village where the train stopped before arriving at Horsley, in their hunt for the attacker.

British Transport Police (BTP) said that officers and paramedics could not save the man, who died at the scene. Detectives have begun a murder investigation.

Natalie Jones, a passenger, wrote on Twitter: “I was on this train, how those guards and especially that train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible.…
A 51-year-old man is stabbed to death on a train in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.