Man accused of stabbing 10 passengers on London train faces trial

A trial began at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday over an incident on an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London, where a passenger was filmed brandishing a knife and stabbing multiple people. The defendant, 33-year-old Anthony Williams, has been charged with fourteen counts of attempted murder. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told the jury that Williams stabbed ten passengers and attempted to kill four others on the train, which made an emergency stop in Huntingdon on 1 November.

CCTV footage shown to jurors shows the suspect, dressed in a black hoodie, walking down the carriage aisle before producing a knife and speaking to passengers. At one point he leans toward a seat and later turns into the next carriage. The video also captures passenger Stephen Crean attempting to wrest the weapon from Williams. Paxton quoted Williams as asking, “Do you want to die?”

According to the prosecutor, some passengers fled the scene, seeking refuge in toilets and other compartments, while others tried to intervene. One victim, 73-year-old David Presland, was attacked after falling to the ground. Williams denies all charges, including the alleged attempted murders.

The case will continue as the jury considers whether the defendant intended to kill the passengers.