On November 1, 2025, a routine train journey from Doncaster to London King's Cross took a harrowing turn. As the evening service sped south, chaos erupted after the train stopped at Peterborough, with multiple passengers frantically dialing 999 to report a stabbing spree on board. The incident, which left 10 people wounded and ultimately led to the arrest of 32-year-old Anthony Williams, has since gripped the nation and raised urgent questions about public safety, mental health, and the criminal justice process.
Anthony Williams, of Langford Road, Peterborough, now stands accused of a staggering 21 offenses, including 13 counts of attempted murder. According to BBC News, these charges stem not only from the train attack but also from a series of violent incidents in Peterborough, London, and Stevenage in the 48 hours leading up to and following the train stabbings. The breadth of the accusations paints a picture of a rapid and alarming escalation in violence, culminating in the shocking events on the LNER train.
As Sky News reports, Williams faces 10 counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing a knife specifically related to the attack on the LNER service. The victims—named in The Independent as Scott Bletcher, Michael Paffett, Kevin Deely, Jonathan Gjoshe, David Presland, Sachin Balakrishnan, Stephen Crean, Samir Zitouni, Rasza Aslam, and Scott Green—suffered serious injuries, with train crew member Samir Zitouni left in critical condition after reportedly helping to save multiple lives. Eleven people in total were treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, though all have since been discharged, according to BBC News.
The violence did not end there. Williams is also accused of attempting to murder a 17-year-old at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London in the early hours of November 1, as well as a 14-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man in separate attacks in Peterborough on October 31. Additional charges include the attempted wounding of a 28-year-old man, affray at Ritzy's Barbers in Queens Walk, theft of a four-pack of kitchen knives from an Asda store in Stevenage, and the assault of Jordan Morley on a train traveling between King's Cross and Peterborough. The incidents spanned just two days, suggesting a spree that left multiple communities shaken.
The details of the train attack itself are particularly harrowing. As The Independent recounts, the violence began shortly after the train left Peterborough station. Passengers, faced with the unfolding horror, pulled emergency alarms, and train driver Andrew Johnson—a Royal Navy veteran—contacted a signaller to arrange an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station. There, Williams was arrested by police. The 18:25 service was diverted and stopped at Huntingdon following the emergency calls, and the platform was soon swarmed by police and emergency crews, as captured in dramatic images shared by the press.
Williams' legal journey has been fraught with complications. On December 1, 2025, he refused to attend his scheduled hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, declining to join a video link from prison. As CambridgeshireLive and GB News both note, this was not the first time Williams failed to appear; he had previously missed a hearing at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on November 19 regarding additional charges. The absence led Judge Mark Bishop to adjourn the proceedings, with a new hearing set for January 28, 2026. Williams remains in custody, and a provisional trial date has been set for June 22, 2026.
The legal process has also been complicated by concerns over Williams' mental health. An application for a psychiatric assessment was put forward before any pleas could be entered, with the assessment expected to take six weeks. Judge Bishop granted both prosecution and defense two days to review the forthcoming psychiatric report, a step that could significantly influence the direction and timeline of the case.
Williams' defense, led by barrister Graham Arnold, did not object to the prosecution's request to join the two sets of charges—those relating to the train attack and those from the earlier incidents—bringing the total to 21. The custody time limit for Williams currently runs until May 1, 2026, and an application for its extension is expected.
The attacks have prompted an internal review by Cambridgeshire Police, who are examining the events leading up to the mass stabbing on the LNER train. This move, reported by The Independent, underscores the broader concerns about whether warning signs were missed and if more could have been done to prevent the violence. The review is likely to focus on the rapid succession of attacks and the response by law enforcement and mental health services in the days prior to the train incident.
The scale and brutality of the attacks have shocked communities across Cambridgeshire, London, and Hertfordshire. The victims, whose lives were upended in a matter of minutes, have received medical care and, in the case of train crew member Samir Zitouni, public recognition for their courage. The trauma, however, lingers—not just for those directly involved but for the wider public, who may now look at train journeys with a new sense of vulnerability.
As the legal process unfolds, attention will remain fixed on Cambridge Crown Court. The next hearing, scheduled for January 28, 2026, will determine how the case proceeds, particularly in light of the pending psychiatric assessment. The provisional trial date of June 22, 2026, looms, with the public and press alike watching closely for answers and accountability.
In the aftermath of the attacks, questions abound: How did a series of violent incidents go unchecked over such a short period? What steps can be taken to improve passenger safety and mental health intervention? And how will the justice system balance the need for public protection with the complexities of mental health in criminal cases? While the answers remain to be seen, one thing is clear—the events of November 1, 2025, have left an indelible mark on all those touched by the tragedy, and the road to justice will be long and closely scrutinized.
