Multiple stabbings on a London bound train in Cambridgeshire - 01 Nov 25

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Great news.

Samir deserves formal recognition for his bravery. Shoe in for a George Medal hopefully.

[JohnM]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2dr9d7p102o

A 32-year-old man accused of stabbing 10 people on a train has been charged with further offences related to the day before the attack.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said Anthony Williams, of no fixed abode, had been charged with seven other offences, including two counts of attempted murder, after an investigation.

Mr Williams is already charged with 10 counts of attempted murder in relation to a mass stabbing on a Doncaster to London King's Cross service on the evening of 1 November, which stopped in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

BTP said the further charges related to alleged incidents in Peterborough, Stevenage, and on a train travelling between Hitchin and Biggleswade on 31 October.

Mr Williams is due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court later, charged with the following:

• Attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough
• Attempted grievous bodily harm of a 28-year-old man at Viersen Platz in Peterborough
• Attempted murder of a 22-year-old man near Pleasure Fair Meadow Road in Peterborough
• Affray and possession of a bladed article in connection to an alleged incident at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough
• Theft of knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage
• Common assault of a 31-year-old man onboard a train travelling between Hitchin and Biggleswade.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, for BTP, said the investigation into the Huntingdon incident "had also focused on other offences previously reported to police or identified by our investigation".

"We have worked closely with our colleagues in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, to bring these charges," he said.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Man refuses to appear at court over train attacks

A man accused of stabbing 10 people on a train failed to appear in court after refusing to join a video link from prison.

Passengers were seriously injured on the train, which was travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross, after it stopped at Peterborough on 1 November.

Anthony Williams, 32, from Langford Road in Peterborough, is charged with 13 counts of attempted murder, which also relate to other alleged attacks.

The short hearing was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January.

The 18:25 service was diverted and stopped at Huntingdon - where Mr Williams was eventually arrested - after multiple 999 calls from the train.

Mr Williams, who was represented in court by barrister Graham Arnold, is accused of 21 offences.

Huntingdon allegations:

- Attempted murder of ten people who were on the train

- Possessing a bladed article

- Actual bodily harm in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer while in custody

Other allegations:

- One count of attempted murder and possessing a bladed article after a man suffered facial injuries at the Pontoon Dock DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) station in Silvertown, east London, in the early hours of 1 November

- Attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

- Attempted murder of a 22-year-old man at Rail World Car Park in Peterborough on 31 October

- Attempted wounding with intent of a 28-year-old man at Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough on 31 October

- Possession of a bladed instrument in a public place at Henry Penn Walk

- Affray in connection with an alleged incident at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough on 31 October

- Theft of knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage on 31 October

- Common assault of a 31-year-old man onboard a train travelling between Hitchin in Hertfordshire and Biggleswade in Bedfordshire on 1 November

Eleven people received treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after the incident on 1 November. They have all since been discharged.

Earlier, the court was told Mr Williams had refused to go into the video-link room from prison.

Judge Mark Bishop fixed a provisional trial date for 22 June.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

King greets those who showed bravery during Huntingdon train knife attack

[Image from here is not available to guests]
King Charles greets rail worker Samir Zitouni and his wife Eleni Sakkoulei

King Charles has met a group of rail staff and passengers who had shown bravery during the Huntingdon train knife attack last month.

The group included railway worker Samir Zitouni, who was hailed for his efforts to save passengers, train driver Andrew Johnson, and Stephen Crean, who was stabbed in the hand when he intervened.

Eleven people were treated in hospital for injuries after the attack on the London-bound train, that had been diverted to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder related to the train attack.

[Image from here is not available to guests]
Driver Andrew Johnson has been praised for his quick thinking in diverting the train

There was much praise for the response of passengers and train crews during the incident on the service between Doncaster and London King's Cross on a Saturday evening.

In Parliament, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute to the "breathtaking bravery" of those who had helped, including the "heroic acts of the passengers and train crew who intercepted the attacker". MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) had called for the highest civilian medal, the George Cross, to be awarded to those who had shown great bravery.

King Charles gave his own recognition with an audience at the Palace, where he posed for photographs with the visitors. They included Andrew Johnson, the train driver who was praised by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander for diverting the train from the fast to the slow track after the alarm was raised.

A short hearing in the case against Mr Williams was adjourned at Cambridge Crown Court earlier this month and proceedings are due to resume on 28 January 2026.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Footballer in mass train attack reveals he was stabbed seven times

"I was on the train, just chilling. Suddenly, someone's come over my shoulder, and stabbed me."

Footballer Jonathan Gjoshe pauses as he recalls the harrowing events of 1 November last year.

Just weeks into his first season at Scunthorpe United, the 23 year-old had been travelling from Doncaster back to his home in London. But about an hour into the journey, the unimaginable happened.

Gjoshe was among the 11 passengers seriously injured in a knife attack on a train as it travelled through Cambridgeshire.

While it soon emerged that Gjoshe had been hurt in an incident that made headlines around the world, the defender chose to decline the many interview requests received by the club, and focus instead on his long road to recovery.

But six months on, he is finally ready to speak publicly about his ordeal for the first time. And why he is now looking for a new club.

(BBC article continues)