Multiple people were stabbed on the 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday (November 1), with the train making an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon after passengers pulled emergency alarms.
Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.
The BTP has confirmed it is leading the investigation into the incident and is linking it with four other previous offences.
These offences were previously reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the BTP in Peterborough and London.
The BTP has provided a full timeline of events included in the investigation:
- On October 31 at 7.10pm, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed by a man with a knife in the city centre on Henry Penn Walk in Peterborough. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries and was later discharged. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has said the offender had left the scene when the call was made and despite a search of the area by officers and a police dog, the offender was not identified.
- On October 31 a man with a knife entered a barbers in Fletton, Peterborough around 7.10pm. This was reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary two hours after the incident occurred, with the force stating that at the time of reporting the man was no longer there and had not returned, so they did not send officers, but a crime was raised.
- On November 1 at 00.46am, BTP officers received a report of an incident on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock where a 17-year-old victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife. The suspect had left the location before police arrival. BTP subsequently identified Anthony Williams as a suspect and took steps to locate and arrest him that day.
- On November 1 at 9.25am, a further incident was reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary again by the barbers in Fletton while the man was still at the scene. Cambridgeshire Constabulary have stated their officers were deployed to the location and arrived within 18 minutes. Upon searching the area, officers were unable to locate the man or identify him.
- At 7.42pm on November 1, officers were called to reports of a multiple stabbing on board the 6.25pm train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross.
Anthony Williams has also been charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection to the incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station on November 1.
BTP detectives believe all these incidents are linked.
Of those injured on the train, 10 patients were taken by ambulance to hospital and one patient self-presented.
As of today (November 4), seven patients have been discharged.
One patient, an LNER member of staff – identified as Samir Zitouni – remains stable but critically unwell and three other patients remain stable in hospital.
The 48-year-old customer experience host was working onboard the LNER train from Doncaster to London.
He “did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him”, his employer said, and he remains in hospital in a stable condition but critically unwell.
LNER said Mr Zitouni, who has worked for the firm for more than 20 years, has been credited with helping to save multiple lives after passengers came under threat.
BTP has reviewed the circumstances leading up to the knife attack on a train between Peterborough and Huntingdon and believes there are no matters to be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) at this time.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: “The criminal investigation is a priority for British Transport Police, and we are working closely with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We have also this week initiated measures to increase the visibility of police officers across the railway network to reassure both rail staff and the travelling public.
“People will have seen officers actively patrolling concourses and trains, engaging with train crew and passengers, and covering as many services as possible to maintain safety and confidence.
“Most importantly, the public are our eyes and ears too. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and text us on 61016.”
Anthony Williams, of Langford Road in Peterborough, is next due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.
