Man on trial for attempted murder on Huntingdon train

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 16:08 · Archive

Anthony Williams, 33, denies 14 counts of attempted murder following attacks on an LNER train and in London and Peterborough.

Anthony Williams, 33, is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court facing 14 counts of attempted murder. Ten counts relate to an attack on an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross on 1 November 2025, which made an emergency stop at Huntingdon. Three counts relate to offences in Peterborough and one to an attack in London. Williams denies all charges. The trial opened on 28 October with the jury sworn in and is expected to last six weeks.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told the jury that passengers 'fled for their lives' when Williams pulled a knife on the train. He said that during the journey, some passengers tried to de-escalate the attack by telling Williams 'they loved him'. Some passengers showed 'extraordinary bravery' in attempting to defend others, but Mr Paxton said these efforts were 'to no avail' and Williams continued his attack. The court was shown CCTV footage including footage of a 73-year-old man who fell to the ground, with Williams standing over him before stabbing him, and footage of an interaction between Williams and victim Stephen Crean in a buffet serving area.

In the early hours of 1 November, Williams is accused of stabbing a man at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London using a knife he had stolen from an Asda store in Stevenage. Mr Paxton told the court that Williams went to Asda with the 'sole purpose of stealing a large knife' and took a 'pack of four kitchen knives which he puts down his trousers before walking out of the store'. The prosecutor said that 'some hours later' Williams discarded the empty pack of knives near bins in Old Castle Street in London, but kept the largest knife, which he used to stab the man at Pontoon Dock. Williams has pleaded guilty to stealing the pack of knives.

How it is being reported

• Train stabbings accused used stolen Stevenage knives to attack man, court hearsThe man accused attempted murder following the Huntingdon train stabbings used knives he stole from Stevenage to attack a man in London, a court has heard.Cambs Times · 28 Oct, 15:26
• Train stabbings accused used stolen Stevenage knives to attack man, court hearsThe man accused attempted murder following the Huntingdon train stabbings used knives he stole from Stevenage to attack a man in London, a court has heard.Ely Standard · 28 Oct, 15:26
• Terrified passengers told Huntingdon train attacker ‘they loved him’, court hearsTrain passengers 'fled for their lives' when they saw the attacker with a knifeCambridgeshire Live · 28 Oct, 15:21

In this story: Anthony Williams · Christopher Paxton KC · Stephen Crean · Cambridge Crown Court · LNER · Huntingdon · Stevenage · London

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