Man on trial for attacking 10 people on London train

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 21:51 · Archive

Anthony Williams is on trial for the attempted murder of 14 people, including 10 passengers on an LNER train on 1 November last year.

Anthony Williams, 33, is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court charged with attempted murder of 14 people during the Halloween weekend last year. Ten of the charges relate to a five-minute attack on an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London on 1 November. Three charges concern attacks in Peterborough and one concerns an attack at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London.

Opening the prosecution case, prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told jurors that Williams posed 'a dangerous threat' to those he encountered on Friday 31 October and 1 November. He said Williams 'brought terror' to the train service, moving from carriage to carriage. The court was shown CCTV footage of passenger Stephen Crean attempting to wrestle a knife from Williams.

During the train attack, Williams asked one passenger, 'Do you want to die?' before stabbing him. Mr Paxton told the court: 'We say, clear evidence of the defendant's intention to kill, as was the use of the knife to stab so many, and use to stab and cut Mr Crean in his hand, head and lower back.' The prosecutor described a 'ripple effect' as the attack spread through the train, with some passengers running for their lives and others standing to protect others.

Williams admits he attacked the people named in the indictment and intended to cause them serious harm. However, he denies all 14 counts of attempted murder, meaning he disputes that he intended to kill those he attacked.

The trial is taking place at Cambridge Crown Court.

Man on trial for attacking 10 people on London train — Image: Evening Standard

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How it is being reported

Train attacker asked passenger ‘do you want to die?’ during rampage, court toldJurors at Cambridge Crown Court were played a CCTV clip of passenger Stephen Crean trying to wrestle a knife from Anthony Williams.Evening Standard · 28 Oct, 21:38
Heart-stopping moment Huntingdon train knifeman asks 'do you want to die?'A court was shown rampaging knifeman Anthony Williams threatening terrified passengers.Daily Express · 28 Oct, 21:06
Man who stabbed 10 on train asked passenger 'do you want to die?', court hearsA man who stabbed 10 people on a train heading to London asked one passenger "do you want to die?", a court has heard.Sky News · 28 Oct, 17:51
Huntingdon train attacker asked man ‘do you want to die?’ during knife rampageCourt artist sketch of Anthony Williams appearing via videolink at Cambridge Crown Court (Picture: Julia Quenzler/SWNS) Terror surged through a train as a knifeman went from carriage to carriage trying to kill passengers, a court heard. Anthony Williams, 33, asked one ‘do you want to die?’ before…Metro · 28 Oct, 16:33
Huntingdon train attacker asked passenger ‘do you want to die?’ during stabbing rampage, court hearsTrain crew member Samir Zitouni tried to use a frying pan to stop Williams, but was stabbed multiple timesThe Independent · 28 Oct, 14:40

In this story: Anthony Williams · Stephen Crean · Christopher Paxton · Cambridge Crown Court · LNER · London · Doncaster · Peterborough

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