Dog's aggressive barking credited with halting train knife attack in Cambridge court

A Cambridge Crown Court hearing detailed how a passenger’s dog, Poppy, barked loudly at Anthony Williams as he stabbed the owner, Scott Green, three times on an LNER train near Huntingdon. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said the dog’s aggressive barking caused Williams to abandon the attack and run down the aisle.

"Mr Green thought that if he didn’t get the knife – and I quote, ‘He’s gonna kill me.’"

Green, who fought back and tried to seize the knife, later recounted that the dog’s barking forced the attacker to flee. Footage shown to the jury captured Williams repeatedly thrusting the knife at Green, while the dog was not visible in the video and appeared unharmed.

After escaping the assault, Green was pulled into a lavatory by a female passenger, who was described by the prosecutor as having “probably saved his life.” Green sustained injuries to his back and hand and was taken to hospital.

The trial also heard testimony from other victims, including David Presland, 73, who said he feared for his life, and Stephen Crean, who wrestled with the attacker for over 20 seconds before escaping. Crean later called emergency services from a locked toilet, saying he was scared to open the door.

Williams, 33, faces multiple charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent for a series of knife attacks on the train and in other incidents. He has admitted to stabbing several victims but denies attempting to murder them. The court was shown body-worn camera footage of armed police confronting Williams in a car park after he fled the train; he was tasered, arrested, and later assaulted a police officer, to which he has pleaded guilty.

The incident ended after the train driver slowed the train at Huntingdon station, allowing passengers to disembark and alert authorities. The trial continues.