Train stabbing suspect charged with 10 attempted murders

Anthony Williams, 32, accused of multiple knife attacks on LNER train & DLR station — as police probe linked stabbings in one of Britain’s worst rail incidents. A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with ten counts of attempted murder following a major knife attack on a train in Cambridgeshire on Saturday evening.

Anthony Williams, of Langford Road, Peterborough, is accused of carrying out a series of stabbings aboard the 18:25 London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross, which made an emergency stop at Huntingdon station shortly before 20:00 GMT.

Emergency services were called to the scene after passengers raised the alarm at 19:39, prompting a large-scale police response. Ten people were taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, with one additional casualty later seeking treatment. A member of railway staff who intervened to protect passengers remains in a critical but stable condition, according to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

Williams faces ten charges of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of possessing a bladed article. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that the charge of actual bodily harm relates to an alleged assault on a police officer in a custody suite following his arrest.

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British Transport Police said he is also charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection with a separate incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London earlier the same day. A man was attacked there at around 00:45, suffering facial injuries after being struck with a knife.

Williams appeared before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning. Wearing a grey sweatshirt and trousers, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. The brief seven-minute hearing saw him formally remanded in custody, with the case sent to Cambridge Crown Court where he is due to appear on 1 December.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of British Transport Police said: “The criminal investigation and support for the victims is a priority for British Transport Police. Our investigation is also looking at other possible linked offences. Following the charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, I would stress the importance of not saying or publishing anything which might jeopardise or prejudice ongoing criminal proceedings, or the integrity of the investigation.”