Man on trial for knife attacks on train and in two cities

Summarised from 4 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 13:52 · Archive

Anthony Williams, 33, denies attempting to murder 10 people on a Doncaster-London train that made an emergency stop in Huntingdon on 1 November 2025.

Anthony Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, denies 14 counts of attempted murder relating to attacks on an LNER train, in Peterborough and at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London. He is accused of stabbing 10 people on the Doncaster to London King's Cross train on 1 November 2025, which was forced to make an emergency stop in Huntingdon. He also faces three attempted murder charges for incidents in Peterborough and one for an attack at Pontoon Dock DLR station in the early hours of 1 November.

Williams has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wounding with intent relating to the train incident, wounding with intent of a man at Pontoon Dock DLR station, and wounding with intent of a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough on 31 October, along with other offences. His trial opened at Cambridge Crown Court on 28 October.

CCTV footage played to jurors showed a man dressed in a black hoodie, trousers and cap walking down the train aisle before producing a knife. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told the court that Williams "brought terror" to the service during a "rampage". The footage also captured passenger Stephen Crean attempting to wrestle the knife from Williams, and showed passengers barricading themselves using bicycles. Court-shown footage also depicted train crew using a frying pan to attempt to stop the attacker, and Williams being Tasered by police during his arrest.

Passenger Jonathan Gjoshe, who boarded the train at Doncaster, saw a man dressed in black pull out a knife and believed Williams was following him. Mr Gjoshe told other passengers: "Please make sure he's not following me", the court heard.

At the opening of the case, jurors were told that whether Williams carried out the attacks was not in question, but they must consider whether he intended to kill. The trial continues.

How it is being reported

• Knifeman had ‘eyes wide open like he was on something’ during Peterborough attack, court toldA knifeman who stabbed 10 people on a London-bound train was described by a boy he stabbed in Peterborough the day before as having “his eyes wide open like he was on something”, a court heard.Peterborough Telegraph · 30 Oct, 14:39
• Train crew tried to tackle knife attack man with frying pan during 'rampage,' court toldMembers of staff on a train which saw a man attack a number of people with a knife used a frying pan to try and stop him, a court has been told.Peterborough Telegraph · 30 Oct, 13:35
• Watch: Bodycam captures train attacker arrestJurors are shown CCTV footage of a knifeman's arrest, as an attempted murder trial continues.BBC Cambridgeshire · 29 Oct, 21:31
• Watch: Passenger fights off knife attacker with frying panJurors were shown CCTV footage from the train as the trial of a Peterborough man continued.BBC Cambridgeshire · 29 Oct, 14:44
• WATCH: Court shown CCTV that ‘captures knife attacker on LNER train’CCTV footage shows a knifeman on a London-bound train where he stabbed 10 people, a court heard.Ely Standard · 29 Oct, 09:42
• WATCH: Court shown CCTV that ‘captures knife attacker on LNER train’CCTV footage shows a knifeman on a London-bound train where he stabbed 10 people, a court heard.Cambs Times · 29 Oct, 09:42
• Watch: CCTV captures knife attacker on trainVideo shows a man, who denies multiple charges of attempted murder, moving through carriages.BBC Cambridgeshire · 28 Oct, 18:35

In this story: Anthony Williams · Christopher Paxton KC · Stephen Crean · Jonathan Gjoshe · Cambridge Crown Court · Huntingdon · Peterborough · London

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