Authorities in the United Kingdom have brought a raft of new charges against Anthony Williams, the 32-year-old man accused of a mass stabbing aboard a high-speed train earlier this month. The case, which has gripped the nation and raised fresh concerns about public safety on Britain’s railways, continues to unfold with investigators revealing a string of violent incidents allegedly committed in the hours leading up to the train attack.
Williams, of Langford Road in Peterborough, is at the center of a sprawling investigation that now encompasses not just the November 1 stabbing spree on the London-bound LNER service, but also multiple alleged crimes in Peterborough and Hertfordshire the previous day. According to British Transport Police, Williams stands accused of stabbing 10 people on the 18:25 GMT LNER train as it traveled from Doncaster toward London, prompting an unscheduled emergency stop at Huntingdon and a swift, large-scale response from police and medical teams. Eleven people ultimately required hospital treatment following the incident, as reported by BBC News and UPI.
But the train attack, horrific as it was, appears to have been part of a broader pattern of violence. On November 19, 2025, Williams was charged with seven further offences linked to events that allegedly took place on October 31, just hours before the train stabbings. These charges include the attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy at Henry Penn Walk and a 22-year-old man at Rail World Car Park, both in Peterborough. Prosecutors also allege attempted wounding with intent at Henry Penn Walk, as well as affray connected to an incident at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough. Williams is further accused of possessing a bladed instrument in a public place, theft of knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage, and common assault of a 31-year-old man on a train traveling between Hitchin and Biggleswade the following day.
Williams did not appear at the brief hearing before Peterborough Magistrates' Court on November 19, and no pleas were entered. No application for bail was made. The accused remains in custody and is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court in December, where the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) intends to consolidate the charges into a single, comprehensive hearing, according to UPI. The CPS has also confirmed that Williams faces an eleventh attempted murder count relating to an alleged attack at a Docklands Light Rail station in London, as well as a charge for possession of a knife.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of British Transport Police emphasized the scale and seriousness of the new developments. “These are a significant set of new charges. Our investigation into the awful incident at Huntingdon has also focused on other offences previously reported to police or identified by our investigation,” Cundy stated, as quoted by BBC News. He further highlighted the collaborative effort behind the charges: “We have worked closely with our colleagues in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police alongside the Crown Prosecution Service to bring these charges.”
Siobhan Blake, West Midlands Chief Crown Prosecutor, echoed the importance of the evidence-gathering process. “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings,” she said, according to UPI. Blake also authorized the theft charge related to knives stolen from a Hertfordshire supermarket, as well as the charges of carrying a knife and affray following the incident at the Peterborough barber shop.
The timeline of alleged events paints a chilling picture. On October 31, Williams is accused of attempting to murder both a 14-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man in separate incidents in Peterborough, as well as attempting grievous bodily harm to a third man. The same day, he allegedly stole knives from an Asda supermarket in Stevenage and was involved in an affray at Ritzy Barbers. The following day, November 1, Williams is accused of assaulting a 31-year-old man on a train between Hitchin and Biggleswade before the mass stabbing on the LNER service.
The train attack itself unfolded rapidly. Passengers on the 18:25 LNER service described a chaotic scene as a man brandishing a knife began stabbing people shortly after the train passed through Peterborough. In what authorities believe was a decisive move to prevent further tragedy, the train was diverted off the high-speed line and made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, where Williams was arrested. Deputy Chief Constable Cundy noted that this diversion likely prevented the attack from being much worse, a sentiment echoed by emergency responders on the scene.
The case has prompted renewed debate over security on Britain’s railways and the challenges of preventing violent incidents in public spaces. While the investigation continues, police have urged the public and the media to avoid speculation that could jeopardize ongoing proceedings. “I would once again like to stress the importance of not saying or publishing anything which might jeopardise or prejudice ongoing criminal proceedings, or the integrity of the investigation,” Cundy said, as reported by BBC News.
Williams was initially remanded into custody at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on November 3, charged with 10 counts of attempted murder over the train incident. The subsequent charges, announced on November 19, reflect the results of an intensive, multi-agency investigation that has sought to piece together Williams’s movements and actions across multiple locations in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
The Crown Prosecution Service, in coordination with British Transport Police and local constabularies, is preparing to bring the consolidated case before Cambridge Crown Court in December. According to the CPS, all charges will be presented together, allowing the court to consider the full scope of the alleged offenses. As the legal process moves forward, authorities remain tight-lipped about the specifics of the evidence but are confident that the case will proceed in the public interest.
For now, Anthony Williams remains behind bars, facing a lengthy list of grave charges and the prospect of a high-profile trial that will be closely watched across the UK. The events of November 1 and the preceding day have left a lasting impact on the victims, their families, and the wider community—raising difficult questions about safety, mental health, and the capacity of the justice system to respond to violent crime. As the case heads to court, those questions will no doubt remain at the forefront of public debate.
With the investigation ongoing and the legal process set to unfold in the coming weeks, the story of the Cambridgeshire train stabbings continues to reverberate, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement and the justice system in confronting acts of violence in public life.
