Man denies attempted murder after stabbing 10 on LNER train

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 29 Oct, 17:36 · Archive

A man is on trial for stabbing 10 people on an LNER train in November last year, asking one passenger 'do you want to die?' as he attacked.

Anthony Williams, 33, is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court accused of stabbing 10 people on an LNER train from Doncaster to London on 1 November last year. He denies 14 counts of attempted murder. The prosecution alleges he told passenger Stephen Crean 'do you want to die?' during the attack. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC described Williams as having 'brought terror' to the service and posed 'a dangerous threat' to people across the Halloween weekend, 'marauding through towns and cities, on streets and trains alike, armed with a knife'. Williams admits stabbing four people in the 24 hours before the train attack and intends to harm them, but denies attempting to murder anyone.

The court heard that Williams cut Crean's hand, head and lower back with a knife, describing it as 'clear evidence of the defendant's intention to kill'. Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Crean attempting to wrestle the knife from Williams during the rampage.

Passenger Raza Aslam told police that Williams 'had the greatest delight on his face' during the attack. Aslam said: 'I saw his eyes expand with pleasure. I saw the contempt on his face, like a person who's high. He was just loving every single moment. He loved seeing us in desperation.' Aslam, a car delivery driver, grabbed a frying pan but was stabbed in the hand and felt an 'immediate loss of energy from his arm'.

Samir Zitouni, who was working on the train, started throwing things at Williams and reportedly saved Aslam's life. Another passenger, Scott Green, was travelling with his dog Poppy when he felt a jab to his left side and saw the knife and the defendant.

According to the court, a barking dog apparently caused Williams to run away. The train was diverted to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, by teams at the Rail Operating Centre in York, allowing driver Andrew Johnson to stop and permit police to board.

How it is being reported

• Knifeman on LNER train had ‘greatest delight on his face’, court toldAn LNER train passenger’s barking dog apparently caused a “marauding” knifeman to run away and saved the day for him, as another traveller said the attacker who stabbed 10 people on the service had the “greatest delight on his face”, a court heard.York Press · 29 Oct, 17:12
• Knifeman on LNER train had ‘greatest delight on his face’, court toldAn LNER train passenger’s barking dog apparently caused a “marauding” knifeman to run away and saved the day for him, as another traveller said the attacker who stabbed 10 people on the service had the “greatest delight on his face”, a court heard.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 29 Oct, 17:12
• LNER train attacker asked passenger ‘do you want to die?’ during rampage, court toldA knifeman asked a passenger “do you want to die?” as he stabbed 10 people on an LNER train, a court heard.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 28 Oct, 15:23
• LNER train attacker asked passenger ‘do you want to die?’ during rampage, court toldA knifeman asked a passenger “do you want to die?” as he stabbed 10 people on an LNER train, a court heard.The Press (York) · 28 Oct, 15:23

In this story: Anthony Williams · Stephen Crean · Raza Aslam · LNER · Cambridge Crown Court · Christopher Paxton KC · Huntingdon · Doncaster

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log